Governor of Queensland to visit Goondiwindi Region in March
I am very much looking forward to welcoming Her Excellency the Honourable Dr Jeannette Young AC PSM, Governor of Queensland, to Goondiwindi next month. We are now finalising the itinerary for the visit, and I understand she is very eager to visit the region and to meet with local schools and the Goondiwindi hospital in particular.
In partnership with Health and Wellbeing Queensland, the Governor will also be taking part in a free community walk along Goondiwindi’s MacIntyre River, with all interested residents invited to attend. The 3km walk on Wednesday, 18 March 2026 will start and finish at Alfie’s Goondiwindi (32 Bowen Street).
This is a free event, but registration is essential. For more information, or to register online, visit Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/goodiwindi-community-walk-with-the-governor-of-queensland-tickets-1982940159396
Such a visit is always an honour, and this will be Her Excellency’s second visit to the region as Governor, following her trip in 2022 to visit residents in Inglewood and Texas.
During that visit, the Governor met with local businesses, emergency services and community groups, toured both the Inglewood and Texas Hospitals, and also visited the Texas P-10 State School.
Cross-border issues, roads, insurance affordability in focus at Council of Mayors meeting
Earlier this month, I joined fellow mayors in Toowoomba for the Darling Downs and South West Queensland Council of Mayors meeting. These regular gatherings bring together local leaders from across our region - from Toowoomba and the Southern Downs through to Bulloo Shire - to discuss shared priorities and strengthen our collective advocacy to state and federal governments.
Key discussions focused on infrastructure, economic growth, water security, disaster preparedness and insurance affordability. We heard from the new Permanent Cross-Border Commissioner, Bob Gee, about improving cross-border coordination and regional advocacy.
We also heard from the Insurance Council of Australia, and I took the opportunity to advise the group that updated flood modelling for Goondiwindi and Inglewood is imminent. Early indications suggest the revised modelling may show significantly lower flood risk than previously assessed, which I would argue should have positive implications for insurance premiums. I look forward to sharing more details as they become available.
The meeting also included discussions with Queensland Treasurer and Minister for Energy Hon David Janetzki MP and Assistant Minister Trevor Watts MP, particularly around disaster recovery funding, freight routes and strategic highway investment. Our region plays a critical role in interstate freight and supply chains, and we will continue advocating strongly for improved roads funding across the border region.
Murray Darling Basin Plan Review Discussion Paper open for submissions now
Earlier this fortnight, the Murray Darling Basin Authority released its 2026 Basin Plan Review Discussion Paper, officially commencing the 10-year statutory review. The paper outlines progress to date and key issues for the decade ahead, including river connectivity in the Northern Basin, native fish recovery, end-of-system outcomes and habitat restoration.
A 12-week public consultation is now open until 1 May 2026, and this is the opportunity for our community to have its say. I strongly encourage interested residents to read the Discussion Paper and make a submission sharing your local knowledge and experience: the submissions received will help inform the Authority as it develops the Review, which is to be finalised and delivered to the Commonwealth Government before the end of the year.
From Council’s perspective, we remain strongly aligned with our local community and Border Rivers Food and Fibre (BRFF) on the vital importance of safeguarding the water resources that underpin our regional economy. Since being re-elected Mayor in 2024, I have reaffirmed Council’s strong advocacy role - particularly around water security and ensuring any Basin Plan changes are grounded in sound science - not change for change’s sake. Council has met with BRFF and senior Basin Authority representatives to outline our concerns and to emphasise the importance of investment certainty and economic prosperity for our region.
Submissions close 1 May 2026 and can be made via the Murray–Darling Basin Authority website: https://www.getinvolved.mdba.gov.au/2026basinplanreview
Future local leaders recognised at GSHS Investiture Ceremony
This week, I was honoured to have attended the Goondiwindi State High School’s School Leaders Investiture Ceremony. It is always such a pleasure to see our young people entrusted with leadership roles within their school communities, from Student Council to House and Year Captains. These students represent the next generation of leaders and changemakers in our region, and occasions like this are a wonderful opportunity to recognise their character and commitment to serving their peers. I’d especially like to congratulate the new School Captains for 2026, Mia McFarlane and Ryan Lindsay. Well done to you both, and to all the new school leaders – I am sure our broader community joins me in wishing them every success in their leadership roles.
Regional Australia at its Best: Lake Coolmunda
It’s always great to get out and about in the region and catch up with some of the many residents doing great things in our locale. This fortnight, while in the east of the region, I made a trip out to Coolmunda Dam to catch up with Steve and Lisa, owners of the Lake Coolmunda Caravan Park since moving to the region and taking on the business in 2024. Steve and Lisa also hold the lease for the waterfront campsite, offering visitors a taste of the Goondiwindi Region on the banks of the lake.
Council is very proud to support our local visitor economy - whether it’s supporting local tourism businesses, operating visitor information centres, developing promotional material, or funding events and activities across the region – and we are very fortunate to have an attraction like Lake Coolmunda, with visitors travelling from far and wide to kick back or cast off on its shores.
Congratulations and well done to Steve and Lisa, it’s great to see them doing such a wonderful job and I look forward to continue working together to show off our region as Regional Australia at its Best.