From the Mayor's Desk - 3 August 2021

As the impacts of COVID-19 are once again felt in the Goondiwindi Region, let’s lead by example to protect our community

This fortnight, COVID-19 has once again impacted our region with hard interstate border closures now in place and many residents also affected by the new restrictions in South East Queensland’s Locked Down Areas.

We have been extremely fortunate that Council’s earlier lobbying to the State Government has resulted in a ‘border bubble’ that includes our broader New South Wales community, and the permitted purposes for travel into Queensland have generally addressed previous concerns like accessing schooling. I am also pleased that the specialist/essential worker category incorporates interstate travel for essential agricultural workers - however, employers need to be aware that these applications do require some time and effort to complete.

The lockdown restrictions now in effect in the 11 local government areas will also apply to any Goondiwindi Region resident, and every member of their household, who has been to a Locked Down Area since 1 am Saturday 31 July. I know this will have a big impact in particular for local families with boarding school students returning home from, say, Brisbane or the Gold Coast. However, I must ask everyone to consider the potential impact if the virus got out to our region, and to do the right thing to protect our community.

Anyone who has been to an affected LGA before the lockdown, but still within the past two weeks, must also wear a face mask until 14 days have passed since they left that LGA. Let’s lead by example in our region - this applies to me, too, and I’ll be wearing a mask when in public as required. As restrictions are likely to change quickly within the coming days, please stay up-to-date with the latest directives directly from Queensland Health: https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19

With the Brisbane Ekka cancelled for the second year in a row, I’d also like to take this opportunity to confirm that the Texas Show Holiday will go ahead as planned for next Monday, 9 August 2021 (regardless of any potential changes to the Royal Queensland Show holiday for other LGAs).

On a different note, due to recent and ongoing rain, many of the region’s roads now require significant repairs, particularly on the state highways. In this financial year, we have secured $5.6 million from the Queensland Government for local road repairs in relation to the 2020 floods - this demonstrates the lag time between damage and funding to support the local road repairs. I am cognizant that quality roads are essential to our businesses and our day-to-day goings, so I thank residents for their patience as we work with the State Government to repair highways, and I urge all residents and visitors to the region to take care on the roads.

I am pleased to report that the Talwood water reservoir upgrade is nearing completion. Approximately $600,000 has been spent to more than triple the town’s water supply. This increase in storage capacity will ensure sufficient residential supply during dry periods and also support fire-fighting water requirements. The works at Talwood are part of Council’s commitment to improving water security across the region: Council has invested more than $6.5 million over the past two years to improve the region’s water security infrastructure and to better prepare the region for current and future times of drought.

Following on from the recent Inglewood Aged Care Steering Committee meeting, Council is now in the process of formally securing the lease for the former ‘Casa Mia’ site. Securing this asset on behalf of the Inglewood community is a significant milestone and complements the work of locals who are concurrently establishing a not-for-profit entity with the intent of either operating an aged care facility themselves or through an external operator. The next public meeting will be Monday, 13 September at 5 pm in the Inglewood Customer Service Office boardroom. As always, everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend. (Please RSVP to Debbie at delliott@grc.qld.gov.au or 07 4652 0216 in the first instance so we can manage numbers with COVID-19 restrictions.)

On a final note, it was great to host Everald Compton AO at our recent Council meeting. Everald is an inspirational Australian who first conceived the idea of Inland Rail and has driven the concept through the initial stages of adoption. His positivity about the future of agriculture in Australia and its ongoing importance and contribution to the Australian identity is compelling and uplifting. As a Council, we also welcome Everald’s advice for the extension of the Inland Rail to include the deepwater port of Gladstone.