Water, secure funding streams on Mayor Paul Antonio’s Toowoomba Regional Council to-do list for 2021

The Toowoomba Regional Council has entered what will be its first full calendar year in the current term. Here’s what Mayor Paul Antonio wants to achieve in 2021.

TRC Mayor Paul Antonio

Water security and new revenue streams to fund infrastructure sit at the top of Toowoomba Mayor Paul Antonio’s to-do list for the region in 2021.

With the new Toowoomba Regional Council entering what will be its first full calendar year of the current term, Cr Antonio said securing water resources would be vital for the ongoing success of the city.

Pointing to the formation of the new alliance with several other councils across southern Queensland and northern New South Wales, the Mayor said 2021 was likely to be a big year for water security.

“One of the greatest legacies I can leave is to have some clear indication of our water future and water security,” he said.

“I’ve brought together a group of mayors to discuss this, and it’s a serious matter.

“We want to look at all the future options, and it’s obvious we’ll have to form an organisation that can in fact take the money from the Federal Government.

“Water is a massive part of the economy and the availability of it is tremendous.”

Cr Antonio said local government was still maligned when it came to uncontested state and federal funding streams, something he would like to start to change in 2021.

“I’d certainly like to continue my ongoing discussions about where local government is,” he said.

“We are the community builders and the funding streams that come our way are competitive.

“The biggest problem with this is our inability to build the types of connecting roads that meet our future freight requirements.

Roads is just one issue, but building parks and gardens (is another) — if we had a better share of the federal income stream, it would help.”

Looking locally, Cr Antonio said work would start on the new Highfields Library, in a major boost to services in a high-growth area.

“Highfields is a rapidly growing area, the population is very similar to the population of Warwick, so we need to make sure we get an appropriate service centre,” he said.

He also pointed to the continued rollout of the pandemic response investment program.