Toowoomba leaders meeting: Garth Hamilton, Geoff McDonald, David Janetzki, Rebecca Vonhoff, Trevor Watts, Pat Weir to discuss housing crisis

Toowoomba’s leaders from three levels of government will finally meet again for the first time in nine months — and one major issue will be on the agenda.

Toowoomba’s ongoing housing and rental crisis will be a key point of discussion when the city’s leaders across three levels of government meet in March.

Groom MP Garth Hamilton has revealed he will hold the next leaders summit, to be held in March, at the Toowoomba City Library, with mayor Geoff McDonald and deputy Rebecca Vonhoff, Queensland treasurer David Janetzki and state MPs Trevor Watts and Pat Weir all agreeing to come.

The regular meetings, designed to be held every quarter, were a commitment secured by The Chronicle as part of last year’s council investigation into accountability and transparency.

Mr Hamilton said the upcoming event, which will be the second organised after the initial summit in July last year, would see a significant discussion around unlocking housing across the Toowoomba region.

At the inaugural quarterly Toowoomba leaders meetings at the City Bowls Club – Toowoomba mayor Geoff McDonald and deputy mayor Rebecca Vonhoff, federal Groom MP Garth Hamilton, state Toowoomba North MP Trevor Watts and state Condamine MP Pat Weir.

“Clearly the new state government has its approach to trunk infrastructure, and the Coalition has a similar policy federally,” he said.

“Directed investment, whether it’s water, sewerage or roads, can unlock more housing.

“We’ve got both levels of government represented, so it’s important the council shows us that and lays it all out.

“Growth is important for our city, investment follows growth and we’re competing with other regions, so we do need to keep growing in a strong way.”

News of the meeting comes just a month after the council unveiled a $350m submission for vital infrastructure funding to the state government, which it says could unlock 50,000 extra homes across the region.

Mr Hamilton welcomed the program of works, arguing it was a step in the right direction.

“It’s an excellent step forward, it must be commended and we must prioritise what areas council sees it can grow into,” he said.

“That’s what the opportunity was to do, that’s what these meetings are all about and are clear to all of us.”

Other likely topics will include funding support for the Cressbrook Dam safety upgrade and the Toowoomba Equestrian Centre’s inclusion as a venue for the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games.

Originally published as Toowoomba leaders meeting: Garth Hamilton, Geoff McDonald, David Janetzki, Rebecca Vonhoff, Trevor Watts, Pat Weir to discuss housing crisis