Arts, public transport a focus for new council candidate
THE latest candidate in the Toowoomba Regional Council race has prioritised more public transport and a rejuvenated arts scene in her platform.
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THE latest candidate in the Toowoomba Regional Council race has prioritised more public transport and a rejuvenated arts scene in her platform.
Musician, former public servant and small business owner Chelle McIntyre, who is the great-granddaughter of Toowoomba Mayor and alderman Joseph Sharp McIntyre, has announced her candidacy.
Ms McIntyre said her election bid would be based around improving public transport, protecting green spaces, fostering arts development and boosting tourism.
She said Toowoomba's use of buses and trains could increase if given the right support from the council.
"We're the second-largest inland city and we have a terrible public transport system," Ms McIntyre said.
"People get out of the habit of going into the city when they feel it's too hard.
"The population is ripe for change and innovation.
"Cars are so expensive for people now and inconvenient.
"I'm a dedicated car person, but I'm looking at how to grow this town."
Ms McIntyre said she was a member of the Toowoomba arts community, and wanted to see the council foster the scene while reviewing its community grants program.
"There was a massive arts and music scene many years ago, because there was that engagement," she said.
"Council can support that with mentoring and asset support.
"If we had a community arts office, people could know these (arts and community) grants existed.
"$40,000 was torn from the arts budget to sponsor a football game, leftover community grants money has gone to golf prizes."
Ms McIntyre was referencing the council's 2018 decision to sponsor the Gold Coast Titans game in March of that year for $40,000, which was pulled together from four different grant programs.
The new candidate said tourism would be a focus, particularly to develop the highly-touted Quarry Gardens project with an added chairlift.
Ms McIntyre can be reached at chellemcintyreTRC@gmail.com.