Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) has resolved to submit motions covering critical issues for consideration at the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) Annual Conference in Gladstone in October.
At last week’s Ordinary Meeting (Tuesday, July 18), Council endorsed a range of motions that will seek to influence future LGAQ, Queensland State Government and Federal Government policy.
Toowoomba Region Mayor Geoff McDonald said issues such as dam safety upgrade funding, the timing of Financial Assistance Grants, the building of dams for regional water security, the State Waste Levy and the cost implications on community groups running events of temporary traffic management were all issues that crossed Council boundaries.
“The motions TRC has resolved to put forward to October’s LGAQ Conference affect most local government areas in Queensland, and we are hoping for strong support.
“Many local government areas in Queensland have been forced to upgrade their dams to meet current legislated dam safety requirements, just as we have in Toowoomba, and we are calling on State and Federal Governments to assist with funding these projects.
“A reliable long-term water supply is vital for the prosperity of regional communities, and TRC is also putting forward a motion calling on State and Federal Governments to build new dams, including options such as Emu Creek, Nathan Dam or dams on the Clarence or Mole River in Northern New South Wales,” Mayor McDonald said.
Further motions to be put forward by TRC include:
- calling on the Queensland State Government to review the State Waste Levy to ensure it won’t impact households;
- a review of the role of Local Government in temporary traffic management, which can add to the event costs for community groups running events that require road closures; and
- calling on State and Federal Governments to provide a schedule for future Financial Assistance Grant payments to provide more certainty around Council budgets.
“These motions will be put on the table at October’s Annual Conference as advocacy work across these issues continues on behalf of our residents,” Mayor McDonald said.
