Maranoa Regional Council Meeting Snapshot – Wednesday, 20 May 2026
Published on 22 May 2026
We’re finishing off May with some exciting updates from the latest Council meeting!
Here are just a few key outcomes:
Council has given in principle support to rename the western end of May Street Wallumbilla, to Hembrow Street. Acting on residents' concerns around how confusing it can be to find May Street in Wallumbilla, particularly for emergency services, this decision is a step to fixing this issue for the long term.
The Hembrow name recognizes Former Chairman of Bendemere Shire, Rowland Hembrow who served his community from 1933 to 1949, a period of history that saw our region live through the Great Depression and post-World War 2.
From here council will consult directly with affected residents about the renaming and what our next steps are.
Council has adopted the Terms of Reference for the Maranoa Regional Youth Council and will begin engaging with local school principals to establish this exciting initiative. This is a great step towards empowering youth leadership in our region.
Council has approved funding through Round 2 of the Events Assistance Program to support local events like Creative Injune’s Biggest Morning Tea, Injune in June, Begonia Golf and Sports Club’s art workshop and the Injune Race Club’s Annual Race Meet. We’re also recognising volunteers across 12 communities during National Volunteer Week, which is taking place around Australia this week. It’s all about supporting our region’s incredible community spirit.
Council has adopted the Maranoa Visitor Economy Strategy 2026–2035, a collaborative plan to grow our region’s visitor economy and drive prosperity. This strategy sets the foundation for future initiatives to boost tourism and regional development.
Council has endorsed a $15,000 digital marketing campaign to support tourism across the Maranoa during the ongoing fuel concerns. Running throughout June and July, this campaign will showcase local deals and promote the Maranoa as an affordable, welcoming destination for visitors. It’s another example of how Council continues to support our local businesses and economy during challenging times. This short-term initiative comes directly from feedback we have received from our community, with many businesses telling us that the tourism season has had a slower start than usual this year. The good news is that the Maranoa has so much to offer visitors — from our unique experiences and friendly communities to our wide-open spaces and importantly, we are — just down the road.
Recognizing the magnitude of opportunities that the Taroom Trough development presents, along with resource and energy projects, Council has established a Major Resource and Energy Projects Strategic Advisory Committee. This committee will oversee and align major developments across the Maranoa region and today we have appointed Deputy Mayor O’Neil with his Major projects portfolio and Cr Hancock with her economic development portfolio to sit on this committee along with senior staff to help Council manage opportunities and impacts from the ever-growing energy and resource activities.
Council has awarded the kerbside waste collection contract for the Maranoa region to JJ Richards Pty Ltd. This ensures reliable and efficient waste services for our community, with the contract now ready to be finalised and executed.
There’s more to know!
You can watch the full Council meeting online to stay up to date with everything happening in the Maranoa region by clicking here.