April 16, 2025
Toowoomba Regional Council has written to all candidates in the Federal seats of Groom and Maranoa to put forward its priorities for the 2025 Federal Election.
Toowoomba Region Mayor Geoff McDonald said it was crucial all candidates running for office in the two seats which cover the Toowoomba Region were aware of Council’s priorities.
The key priorities Council outlined included:
- Advocacy and funding for the Cressbrook Dam Safety Improvement Project;
- Funding for trunk infrastructure to help unlock housing;
- Increases to the local government Financial Assistance Grants back to 1 per cent of taxation revenue;
- Increases in migrant and refugee funding for the Toowoomba Region;
- Returning the 80:20 Federal/State funding arrangements to local government for disaster recovery funding including betterment;
- A commitment to obtaining formal clarity on the Inland Rail Project to provide surety to the community on alignment and investment into our region as well as future planning matters;
- A commitment on investments on Swartz Barracks at Oakey and Borneo Barracks at Cabarlah; and
- A commitment to supporting and seeking funding for the Toowoomba Region Sports Precinct at Charlton to meet growing and currently outstripped demand for sport and recreational facilities.
“We particularly want candidates to be aware of TRC’s strong position in supporting the Local Government Association of Queensland’s ‘Don’t leave us stuck in the 70s’ campaign which aims to highlight the current funding model supporting councils was introduced more than 50 years ago and is no longer sustainable,” Mayor McDonald said.
“We wish all candidates across the seats of Groom and Maranoa the best of luck for Saturday May 3 and look forward to working with the successful candidates into the future.”
