Toowoomba Deputy Mayor Geoff McDonald backs creation of Toowoomba CBD live music strategy

The Toowoomba Regional Council looks set to develop an official strategy to encourage and foster live music, with one councillor pushing for its inclusion in an upcoming initiative.

The Toowoomba Regional Council will consider a live music strategy for the CBD.

A Toowoomba councillor has backed the creation of a live music strategy for the CBD as part of a wider plan for arts and culture across the city.

Deputy Mayor Geoff McDonald has reaffirmed his belief the council should have an official strategy to foster the growth in live music in Toowoomba.

It comes as live shows and gigs start to return as restrictions continue to relax across Queensland following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cr McDonald said the initiative should be included in the upcoming Arts and Culture Strategy, which is currently being developed by officers and will be ready for community consultation next year.

“I just want to include a live music strategy within that and that’s reflective of our organically-grown live music scene, which has been boosted by the opening of Met and Carnival Lane this year,” he said.

“It’s about making sure performers have a safe place to perform and that it’s accessible for all people.

“We’ve got great outdoor and indoor spaces, so an action focusing on legislation and rules and obligations would be great.”

Cr McDonald said other regional centres already had strategies in place for encouraging and supporting live music, citing Bendigo and Newcastle as examples.

“It’s a way of enhancing the CBD and also providing opportunities for artists,” he said.

“We’ve organically grown our sector to this point, and to have a strategy based on feedback from all stakeholders and having something to assist and guide that and make it affordable for musicians is a good way forward.

“We provide the blank canvas and creatives can come in and provide that activation.

“That’s where we’ll see a night-time economy that hasn’t quite reached the levels here that a regional capital like us should.”