Our quality lifestyle on show to the world

 With local dams full and weather patterns returning to a sense of normality, Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) is eager to reinforce the region's image as the premier garden destination in the country. The 2011/12 TRC Budget significantly reflects this commitment.

Tourism, Events and Parks Services portfolio leader Cr Joe Ramia said that even during a decade of drought, TRC staff and the districts' gardeners had worked tirelessly to preserve the gardening reputation of the region.

Now, on the back of favourable weather conditions, it was time to shore up those efforts.

"We live in one of the most desirable and attractive regions in Australia and that doesn't happen by accident," Cr Ramia said. "A lot of hard work goes into the upkeep of our region's parks, play areas, rotundas, barbecues and water features.

"That requires considerable man power, so it's no surprise our operating costs for parks and open spaces are more than $16.5 million. Add to this, new capital works in the vicinity of $3 million and we have almost $20 million committed to safeguarding our excellent gardening reputation.

"Think of the time, effort and cost that goes into maintaining your own lawn and gardens at home and then multiply that by 345 public parks and 64 bushland parks (with a total area of more than 8500 hectares). It gives you an idea of the size of the workload that faces our parks' staff," he said.

"But this hard work brings its benefits every year, with the ongoing success of the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers and the associated promotion of the region a cornerstone of our tourism market.

"Council will further enhance the beauty of our streetscapes with $200,000 being budgeted for Avenue Development and Restoration works where we will develop new avenues on major roads and replace inappropriate and dying trees along existing roadways."

Councillor Ramia said another area deserving of praise, and one TRC will continue to develop, is the growing arena of sports tourism.

"This year alone, we have seen outstanding visitor numbers and nation-wide media coverage as a result of again hosting the Queensland PGA Championships at the City Golf Club and the staging of the FK Gardner Tour of Toowoomba national road series event," he said.

"Couple this with another visit from the Queensland Roar soccer side to play a pre-season game in the region and the Queensland Junior Rugby Union State Championships (with some 1200 competitors) and I see enormous potential for more of these events to be added to the region's calendar.

"We have also hosted a national water conference, the Surat Basin mining expo and our Sister City International Conference which does not just bring tourism dollars, but genuine cultural and trade links as well.

"By attracting events of this calibre, we will continue to provide quality entertainment, sporting and economic opportunities to our residents and business owners," Cr Ramia said.

"At the same time, we're showcasing the region to substantial visitor numbers as well as national and international media audiences."

Parks and Recreation Services

Crows Nest - Plaza Park                                                                                  17,940

Toowoomba - Replace playground equipment (softfall areas)                      42,338

Toowoomba - Replace playground equipment                                               200,000

Clifton - Bethnell Green Development                                                           5,712

Crows Nest - McLachlan and Mitchell Street Park                                         23,509

Crows Nest - Mountain View Park                                                                  71.082

Crows Nest - Peacehaven Botanical Park (complete rotunda)                       85,255

Crows Nest - Nugent Park                                                                               19,921

Crows Nest - Bullocky's Rest                                                                          7,242

Crows Nest - Michael Park                                                                             5,000

Toowoomba - Local park enhancement                                                          200,000

Toowoomba - Butt Street Park                                                                        9,850

Toowoomba - Webb Park                                                                                17,060

City Parks Furniture and Equipment:

Monuments and Memorials                                                                            50,000

Waterbird Habitat                                                                                           98,153

Parks and Streetscape:

Support Friends of Rose Garden in Newtown Park                                         30,000

Avenue Development and Restoration                                                           200,000

Parks and Open Spaces:

Open Space asset replacement (playgrounds, furniture, shade structures, etc):

Greenmount                                                                                                    50,000

Clifton                                                                                                                         20,000

Crows Nest                                                                                                      50,000

Oakey                                                                                                              50,000

Millmerran                                                                                                      20,000

Goombungee                                                                                                   30,000

Toowoomba (local and other)                                                                         390,000

Greenmount - Lions Park/Sports Club                                                             20,000

Crows Nest - Peacehaven Park development                                                 100,000

Oakey – Lions Park                                                                                         2,201

Millmerran – replace Yarramalong Weir toilets                                             70,000

Millmerran – Factory Dam playground                                                           25,000

Goombungee – Stoney Creek Park                                                                  3,258

Goombungee Kingsthorpe Sporting Shooters                                                 3,146

Goombungee – The Village Green                                                                  3,147

Yarraman toilet                                                                                               90,000

Regional park playground equipment replacement                                       250,000

Public toilet renewal                                                                                       150,000

West Creek (hard surfacing for vehicle access)                                             150,000

New projects:

Clifton - local park enhancement (Centenary Park)                                       5,379

Cressbrook - firebreak construction                                                               40,000

Regional Park enhancement                                                                           300,000

Queens Park pathway                                                                                     26,260

Newtown Park                                                                                                 4,467

Tourism and Events:

Jondaryan Woolshed   (capital works)                                                                        414,800

Operational budget

Parks & Open Space                                                                                       16,675,331

Bushland - Parks & Open Space                                                                     137,248

Events and Festivals                                                                                       364,376

Tourism                                                                                                           3,764,010