Council to explore options for regional meetings

Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) is exploring additional opportunities to engage with residents in regional communities.

With an area that spans almost 13,000 km2, TRC Planning and Development Committee Chair Cr Megan O’Hara Sullivan said Councillors were looking for more ways to engage with all residents throughout the Region.

“We all get feedback about not being accessible enough so we need to look at ways we can change this as we genuinely want to hear from each community member in the Toowoomba Region,” Cr O’Hara Sullivan said.

“The effects of COVID have been felt right across our Region and the impacts of the pandemic have restricted some of our planned community engagement.”

At the Ordinary Meeting of Council on 16 August, Councillors unanimously supported a motion for a report to be presented in October, outlining a variety of options and officer recommendations for additional engagement of Councillors into regional communities.

As part of this report, Council will investigate the proposal of conducting quarterly Ordinary Meetings of Council in regional townships.

“This shows we are reachable and that we care for all of our regional townships. It also sends a clear message we are invested in these areas and that we want to hear the issues which are most important to our residents in those communities,” Cr O’Hara Sullivan said.

“Having meetings in the smaller communities would provide an opportunity for school groups and residents to interact with us more and it would allow for individuals in those areas to give delegations to Council.”