Tourism, Events and Parks Services - Budget

The value to the region of parks and tourism and events were acknowledged in Toowoomba Regional Council’s 2009/2010 budget allocations.

Tourism, Events and Parks Services portfolio leader Cr Joe Ramia said parks were a valuable asset to the community and provided a source of enjoyment, recreation and relaxation to residents and visitors alike.

“Council is responsible for no less than 345 public parks and 64 bushland parks with a total area of more than 8500 hectares.

“In addition, council owns some 86 hectares of public gardens. While these park facilities are a source of community pride, they nonetheless take considerable ratepayer funds to maintain.

“Council has been prudent in allocating more than $1.1m to the ongoing acquisition of parkland across the region.

“The jewel in the crown, Toowoomba’s Queens Park, will be the subject of a conservation management plan costing $35,000 of which the State Government is contributing $15,000. A sum of $40,000, including a $10,000 contribution from the Lions Club, will also be spent at Queens Park on upgrading electrical infrastructure to allow it to better cater for large events,” Cr Ramia said.

“However, much of the parks budget is spent on the ongoing maintenance of the region’s parks.

“For example, vegetation control and mowing costs council around $1.8million each year.

“Likewise, $2.5million is committed to public gardens maintenance which includes Toowoomba’s major parks, the CBD, West Creek, roundabouts and median strips.

“A further $2.4million goes to maintaining park facilities across the region such as playgrounds, toilets, pathways, litter control, monuments, picnic facilities, lakes and water features.

“The maintenance of street and park trees costs $1.8million annually. In addition, council has committed $656,000 to conservation measures and recreation facilities at Lakes Cressbrook and Perseverance.

“Federal Government funding of $120,000 will be spent on a new skate park at Cecil Plains. Council is consulting with the Cecil Plains community on the design with the possibility of including recreational facilities linked to the skate park.

“Council’s Ramsay Street plant nursery has been allocated $155,000, including the popular free plant giveaways for ratepayers,” Cr Ramia said.

“Council will also spend $82,500 this financial year on improving asset management of parks and recreation assets across the region.”

Other specific allocations to the region’s parks include:

• $320,000 to the upgrade and maintenance of playground equipment and furniture in Toowoomba parks
• $15,800 to upgrade existing recreational infrastructure at Cooby Dam
• $10,500 to furniture and signage in Toowoomba’s escarpment parks
• $42,000 to upgrade monuments and memorials
• $15,000 to the State Rose Garden in Newtown Park in conjunction with Friends of the State Rose Garden
• $5,000 to replace park equipment at Clifton
• $55,000 for playground equipment and seating at Jacquelyn Court Park, Oakey
• $35,000 for a linking path at Shooter Park, Oakey
• $160,000 to continue the $390,000 upgrade of the Oakey bird habitat
• $25,000 to replace or upgrade park equipment at Millmerran
• $20,000 to provide barbecues and shade shelter at Rotary Park, Pittsworth
• $10,000 to provide shade shelter at Rotaract Park, Pittsworth
• $50,000 to upgrade amenities at Bridgman Oval, Pittsworth
• $15,000 to replace street trees at Pittsworth
• $20,000 to provide playground shade covers at Greenmount
• $50,000 to provide park and playground equipment at Greenmount
• $20,000 for Lions Park and sporting clubs at Greenmount.

“In the tourism area, council has allocated just over $3million to initiatives including general and business tourism promotion, visitor information services, the Sister Cities program and council-run facilities such as the Jondaryan Woolshed and Spring Bluff railway station,” Cr Ramia said.

“An amount of $402,000 has been earmarked in this budget for capital investment in Jondaryan Woolshed to reduce its long-term operating costs and improve its financial viability.

“Events and festivals have scored over $1.1million with the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers being a big ticket item in that area. Approximately $20,000 will be spent underwriting and supporting the Australian Camp Oven Festival at Millmerran, while $2000 will go to hosting the Town Crier Championships to be held in Toowoomba in September.

“Council’s sports tourism pilot project has already reaped rewards. Council’s sports tourism officer was instrumental in securing hosting of this year’s Queensland PGA Championship at City Golf Club. This position will be reviewed later this year, six months into the project,” Cr Ramia said.