District services

District services portfolio leader Cr Anne Glasheen said Toowoomba Regional Council’s 2010/11 Budget focused on meeting community expectations for local service delivery.

Cr Glasheen said careful forward financial planning would ensure council continued working to achieve greater service consistency across the region.

“Council will continue to maintain service levels across the region. Timely, comprehensive and consistent service standards help residents in all their dealings with council,” Cr Glasheen said.

“Council’s commitment to improving customer service across the region will be realised this Budget through enhanced systems and processes that will ensure consistent customer messages. Local service centres will be retained around the region.

“In fact, the emphasis on customer focus will be enhanced by the addition of a dedicated customer service centre in Toowoomba early next year.

“The financial plan that supports this Budget offers a responsible guide to help council fund and provide facilities and infrastructure which all community members use.

“Council has maintained its commitment to ongoing planning that includes improvements and maintenance on existing facilities.”

Cr Glasheen said council’s commitment to upgrade and maintain vital infrastructure was highlighted by the allocation for road upgrades.

“Given the breadth of the District Services portfolio, it is impossible to cover every project around the region other than the more significant infrastructure projects,” she said.

“More than $10.56 million has been provided for bitumen reseals and to re-gravel unsealed roads around the district.

“This work is an example of ongoing co-operation between council branches which leads to more efficient use of labour and resources.”

Cr Glasheen said council was pleased to have delivered projects across the region to improve and enhance community facilities at pools, showgrounds, halls, sporting and recreation centres and parks.

“In the past year, council has completed upgrades at Pittsworth Showgrounds, a water recycling project in Goombungee, a facelift at Hampton’s Chapman Park and a skate park at Cecil Plains.

“Residents also are enjoying improvements to the Westbrook pedestrian and bike path, better playground equipment in Cooyar and Clifton, new outdoor fitness equipment at Clifton and walkway exercise stations at Millmerran.

“Council appreciates how well these projects are received and used by all members of the community.

“In this financial year, additional community projects valued at $768,000 will be delivered.”

Cr Glasheen said some of the 2010/2011 projects included:

• Development of Westbrook Hall Park
• Upgrade of Factory Dam, Millmerran
• Upgrade of Memorial Park and Drovers Rest (Cooyar)
• Millmerran Recreation Reserve work
• Upgrade at Memorial Park (Cambooya)

Cr Glasheen said council would renovate and expand facilities at the Oakey pool in partnership with the Federal Government.

“Council will contribute $336,000 of a total project cost of $720,000 to be spent on pool filtration and drainage as well as new tiling and concourse improvements,” Cr Glasheen said.