Strategic Services to direct economic, community plans

Toowoomba Regional Council's 2011/12 Budget dedicates funds to maintain key Strategic Services covering regional economic development as well as corporate, community and natural environment planning projects.

Strategic Services portfolio leader Cr Noel Strohfeld said budget funding would be allocated to finalise a Regional Economic Development Strategy.

 He said funds also would be dedicated to ensure council maintained well trained SES personnel and appropriate equipment to respond to disasters across the region.

He said the Regional Economy and Major Projects section would continue to prove its worth by providing ongoing support to businesses across the region.

Cr Strohfeld said the Toowoomba Regional Economic Development Strategy was expected to be finalised by October.

He said the document would identify the economic vision for the region and detail activities that council and other regional partners could undertake to achieve sustainable economic growth across the local government area.

"The launch of the independent Toowoomba Regional Enterprise, formerly the Toowoomba Region Economic Development Board, will help to broaden and strengthen economic activity in our region," Cr Strohfeld said.

"The new body moves from being a committee of council to an independent, not-for-profit company that will promote local industries and opportunities for new ventures.

"Toowoomba Regional Enterprise should start business as early as next month.

"Council supports these frameworks with a range of promotional material which showcases the economic and lifestyle opportunities we offer. Council will update and distribute economic data to aid business planning and investment decisions, with a revised Economic Brief to be published next year.

"Promotions have been conducted in southern Queensland, around the nation and internationally to encourage business links, tourism and to advance the region as a great place to live.

"Council delegations visited two of Toowoomba's Sister Cities, Paju City in the Republic of Korea and Wanganui in New Zealand, to strengthen official relations.

"Toowoomba last week hosted officials from our three Sister Cities, Takatsuki in Japan, Paju City and Wanganui, for the Sister Cities Australia 2011 Conference.

"Council will support dealings with our international friends and promote the many mutual benefits from ongoing economic, social and cultural ties."

Cr Strohfeld said "Warm Welcome" functions would continue to be held quarterly to help new residents settle in to the region and learn about council's range of services and facilities."

He said the Strategic Land Use branch would continue detailed work on a variety of projects. He said the Natural Areas Planning Project would develop a master plan to identify systems intended to manage the region's natural areas.

Cr Strohfeld said important natural areas would be profiled to aid all future strategic management and planning via Environmentally Significant Area mapping.

"A Climate Change Adaptation Action Plan will be developed to find cost savings and highlight benefits for council's operational planning," he said.

"Council also will update the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act Duty of Care to ensure guidelines and procedures apply across the region.

"Along with my Planning and Development portfolio colleague Cr Marks, I'm pleased with this year's budget funding allocation aimed specifically at implementing identified City Centre Master Plan projects. These include the outer circulating road and the provision for a dedicated city centre coordination officer, in the Strategic Land Use branch, to drive specific projects."

In respect to disaster management, Cr Strohfeld said council was committed to continuing its support for the region's 10 SES groups and 169 SES members.

He said volunteers had contributed around 24,446 hours' work covering operations, training and administration in the past year.

"Last year council completed construction of a new SES headquarters at Cecil Plains. This year $75,000 has been allocated to improve other SES facilities to ensure we have the capacity to respond to disasters across the region," Cr Strohfeld said.

"An upgrade and a review of facilities is timely with around 60 new volunteers poised to join our SES ranks and also following the re-activation of the Cambooya Group.

"Last summer's floods showed how vital it is to be ready to respond to any type of emergency.

Our training and reviews are designed to improve our capabilities and we are lucky to have a dedicated group of SES volunteers. Some volunteers' efforts in the past summer's floods were recognised at the Queensland Heroes' Awards. The Cecil Plains SES Group won the Queensland Hero (Group) award.

"This budget provides for a range of initiatives to enhance our readiness and capability to respond to all manner of emergencies. In 2011/12 council will refine operations and procedures at the new Local Disaster Coordination Centre in the Customer Service building.

"Council will consider improvements it can make in relation to the state government's recent Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry interim report."

He said council would introduce the new Local Laws framework, which had been customised to streamline operations for the entire Toowoomba region.