Finally, none of our
achievements
would be possible
without the dedication
Each and every one of you has a story to tell and your
voice is valuable to the future vision of our region. This
year we have focussed on listening to you and allowing
you the opportunity to share your thoughts on a range of
projects and services. Coming up with a region-shaping
idea doesn’t always happen during business hours, so
we have invested resources to providing the availability
for 24/7 feedback through our Your Say website.
and hard work of our
1,700 staff.
Visit yoursay.tr.qld.gov.au to register and get involved.
In the general community, services like water and waste
management are often only front of mind when they
‘don’t work’. But what our residents and visitors probably
don’t fully appreciate is the amount of work that goes into
making sure these essential services are delivered to our
community.
This year saw Council deliver the Greater Toowoomba
Waste Management Facility. This facility has
revolutionised the way we approach waste services
across the region. From the outset, our clear vision was
the creation of a user-friendly facility that could also
deliver superior environmental results. Other forward
plans for waste services include new strategically-placed
waste transfer stations in growth areas in the north and
south of our region.
Our Toowoomba Region story would not be as bright
without the inclusion of the gardens, flowers and natural
wonder that exists as you look around every corner.
This financial year the 66th annual award-winning
Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers saw joy and celebration
spill out into the streets and gardens of our region. The
pride of our region shines in spring and is seen in the toil
of our local gardeners, both in private homes and in our
parks, who work tirelessly for the enjoyment of others and
to give meaning to our coveted title as the ‘Garden City’.
That pride is palpable in the hundreds of volunteers, who,
year after year, work together to make each Carnival
bigger and better than before. It’s also seen in the almost
100,000 people who line the streets for the Floral Parade.
Carnival is a unique event which unifies this community
and I thank all involved, particularly our sponsors, for
ensuring the joy of Carnival continues year after year.
The pages of our story are also illustrated with the
incredible street art that continues to gain national
attention; making our region one of the largest outdoor
art galleries in Australia. Toowoomba is maturing and the
First Coat initiative is another wonderful example of what
is born from Rich Traditions and Bold Ambitions.
This financial year saw the opening of our brand new,
state-of-the-art Toowoomba City Library and Stage 1 of
the Civic Square precinct. This unveiling marks the first
step in the revitalisation and transformation of our civic
precinct. I look forward to the next step of this journey,
which is the restoration of City Hall, which whilst unused
for over a decade, is close to the heart and memory of so
many of our residents.
This year I was also delighted to open Stage 1 of the
Highfields Sports and Recreation Park to our residents
and visitors. The park will see many parents cheering
on their children, local sportsmen and women beat their
personal best and state and national events take centre
stage.
Finally, none of our achievements would be possible
without the dedication and hard work of our 1,700 staff.
Each day we have teams of committed men and women
who innovate, build local infrastructure, ensure your
safety on local roads and make sure that the remarkable
liveability of our region remains. When you drive past a
park with children on the swings, see tree-lined streets,
take your bin out for collection, or even turn on a tap;
take a moment and think of our team who work hard to
bring you these services. I often use the example of the
magnificent old trees in Queens Park. These weren’t put
here by chance; it took a vision, a plan and the essential
first step of planting a seed. The people who cultivated
those seeds probably never got the chance to enjoy
the shade of the tree, but knew that their children and
grandchildren would enjoy it for generations to come.
The 2015-16 chapter of our story is one of which my
colleagues and I are very proud. The Toowoomba Region
is maturing; we are indeed bold with ambition and yet
committed to maintaining the wonderful liveability that
has always been so fundamental to our identity. The
pages that follow bring this chapter of our story to life.
Paul Antonio
Toowoomba Regional Council Mayor
TOOWOOMBA REGIONAL COUNCIL Annual Report 2015 - 2016
Our Council CHAPTER 2
29