Council update. 7 June 2024

Published on 07 June 2024

This week we were proud to welcome Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise to Roma, with A/Mayor Cameron O'Neil invited to share Council's vision for the 2024-28 term at an Enterprise Evening.

This was held at the Western Queensland Spirit.

TSBE is one of Council's valued partners, linking the business community to opportunities across the Maranoa as well as Toowoomba and Western Downs.

Guests heard Cr O'Neil outline how Mayor Wendy Taylor and Maranoa Regional Council see the partnership as one of the key drivers for the economy in the western end of the Surat Basin.

The more than 100 attendees also heard from the Member for Ipswich and Assistant Minister for Treasury, Trade and Investment Jennifer Howard MP, Darren Stevenson from Senex Energy, Warwick Squire from GasFields Commission Queensland and April Cavanagh, CEO and Director of TSBE.

Guests heard that a major focus in the current term is setting our region up for the long term, and that ensuring future generations call the Maranoa home and growing our region as a place to ‘Love Local Life’ is at the core of our region’s sustainability.

Cr O'Neil emphasised the message that 'The Maranoa is Open for Business' and Maranoa Regional Council is ready to help drive investment to grow our local economy.

He said Mayor Taylor and Council are focusing on:

• Reintroducing portfolios to harness the skills, knowledge and interests of each and every Councillor to better develop strategic priorities, and to quickly identify issues and implement solutions for the community. Councillors leading the thematic areas of Council will once again empower the regions civic leaders to lead the business of Local Government.
• Working hard to expand partnership opportunities within and beyond our region to deliver projects and expand our knowledge base with fresh ideas and approaches to problems.
• Developing a housing strategy and Council will be knocking on government's doors starting early July.
• Delivering projects that improve the appeal and usability of our public spaces for residents and visitors to our towns.
• Undertaking generational regional projects like the re-development of the Roma Denise Spencer Memorial Pool, and sourcing State and Commonwealth support to make this community asset come to life.
• Working with our local tourism businesses to ensure a bigger share of Queensland’s tourism dollar is generated and kept in the Maranoa.