Six weeks after the first round of Regional Community Forums for 2022, Darling Down-South West residents met with Ministers and MPs in Warwick today to expand on their priorities and accelerate action for the region.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the next steps for the Darling Down-South West forum were crucial for members to lead projects into the second half of 2022.
“May began a new era with new members sharing their priorities for a region-specific action plan,” the Premier said.
“Forum members, Ministers and MPs have had six weeks to develop their ideas and identify opportunities for the continued growth, wellbeing and prosperity of the Darling Downs-South West.
“There’s a solid foundation for Ministers, MPs and community representatives to use tomorrow’s forum to plan for more good jobs, better services and a great regional lifestyle.”
Minister for Education, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Racing Grace Grace and Assistant Minister for Hydrogen Development and the 50 per cent Renewable Energy Target by 2030 Lance McCallum joined Darling Downs-South West forum members in Warwick.
Member for Ipswich Jennifer Howard and Member for Ipswich West Jim Madden co-chaired.
The forum will start with a site visit to John Dee Meatworks − one of Warwick’s largest employers and an international exporter of beef produced in the Darling Downs region.
The agenda also included presentations from NBNCo and QCN Fibre on digital connectivity in the region, and a presentation by Acciona on its MacIntyre Wind Farm development in the Southern Downs.
Mr Madden said the last forum had a broad discussion about challenges and opportunities in the region.
“Working together, forum members identified common themes and issues, and following a vote, identified three key areas to focus on,” Mr Madden said.
“Education, training and employment pathways, economic and social infrastructure development, and the growth of liveability, diversity and innovation within local communities will all form part of a Local Action Plan for the region.”
Ms Howard said she was keen to join forum members to work through the new Action Plan.
“All the priorities our forum members have shared highlight the importance of a diversified local economy and a sustainable future for young people across the region,” Ms Howard said.
“By incorporating different perspectives local solutions, I know the Action Plan will be an important document for the region moving forward.”
The Darling Downs-South West forum is one of seven held in regional centres across Queensland tomorrow, with other forums set for Far North Queensland, Central Queensland, Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday, North-North West Queensland, Wide Bay-Burnett-Fraser Coast and Western Queensland.
The Regional Community Forums are part of the Queensland Government’s Advancing Queensland’s Regions strategy, supported by the Office for Rural and Regional Queensland.
