Suzie Holt and Garth Hamilton on Cressbrook upgrade savings

As the federal election looms, an independent candidate claims she’s got a plan to negotiate funding for a costly dam upgrade.

With a federal election being called sometime in the next four months, an independent candidate in the Darling Downs seat of Groom has outlined her commitment to securing federal and state funding for the $266.2 million Cressbrook upgrade, hoping to save ratepayers at least $120 a year.

Suzie Holt said she had been building relationships with ministers, politicians, businesses and community leaders for the last three years. She said she has what it takes to get all three levels of government to the table for a funding agreement over the Cressbrook upgrades.

The dam upgrades have overwhelmed this year’s council budget, which, without external funding mean an extra $120 a year per rate paying property.

The upgrades would mean the dam meets the safety requirements as legislated by the Qld Government in 2008.

But who foots the multimillion-dollar bill has been an ongoing ping-pong rally between the local, state and federal governments.

Federal independent candidate for Groom Suzie Holt. January 7, 2025. Picture: Christine Schindler

Bringing a “fresh start” to the discussion, Ms Holt said she would end the “divisive blame game” that had plagued federal and council politics.

Ms Holt is turning out to be a serious contender for Groom, which has remained a conservative National or Liberal seat since its establishment in 1984.
The federal election in 2022 saw a 13.6 per cent swing away from the LNP, with Ms Holt placing second after the distribution of preferences.

She said she wanted to see improvement in the liveability of the region, with more funding available for community activities and projects from the Toowoomba Regional Council, which was “stretched too thin”.

“They can’t deliver the infrastructure we need without adequate funding,” she said.

“It’s the federal government’s responsibility to step up and provide the resources required to create lasting improvements for our community.”

If a minority Labor government won this election, then she said she would use the balance of power in parliament and her ability to negotiate as an independent to get the federal government involved.

She cited the federal government’s recent commitment to the Bruce Hwy, and that while water infrastructure was managed by the states, she argued that water security is a federal issue and “everything is open to discussion”.

Incumbent Groom MP Garth Hamilton responded by saying voting for Ms Holt would simply be another three years of a Labor government.

Groom MP Garth Hamilton said he had been advocating for the region for the past three years and voting for Ms Holt would mean another three years of a Labor government.

“The last three years have shown us that a Labor government will not deliver for Groom,” he said, adding that he had advocated on issues on Cressbrook, Emu Creek Dam, Railway Parklands and co-ordinating the first ever all levels of government meeting for advocacy, funding and action for the region.

Calls for more collaboration between the three levels of government was sparked by The Chronicle’s investigation in May which revealed widespread dissatisfaction among State and Federal MPs, the business community and the region’s influential stakeholders towards Toowoomba Regional Council.

While the pledge was for quarterly meetings, to date only one meeting was held in 2024, with the next meeting yet to be scheduled for 2025.

Originally published as Suzie Holt and Garth Hamilton on Cressbrook upgrade savings