Queensland federal MP for Maranoa David Littleproud encouraged the residents of Wallangarra and Jennings to get behind their Wallangarra/Jennings Progress Association in order to present structured proposals for reinvigorating the border community.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Mr Littleproud hosted a community forum at the Wallangarra Hall on Tuesday, June 27 with the aim of “growing the border community”. In addition to around three dozen residents, Qld state MP Lawrence Springborg was also on the panel along with deputy mayor Greg Sauer representing Tenterfield Shire Council, and Southern Downs mayor Tracy Dobie.
Mr Littleproud said the community was on the right track with its two councils working together, and that collective submissions are much more powerful when approaching state and federal governments for support.
“You are taking the steps to ensure these cross-border issues are being heard.”
In response to a query from the floor, he said use of idle defence force land has been the subject of a senate inquiry which came through a few months ago, reviewing assets and assessing strategic threat, but no specifics on the land use have been forthcoming so far.
Debbie Lightfoot of Stanthorpe promoted the idea of an aged care facility, providing jobs, access to medical facilities in both Stanthorpe and Tenterfield, and an economic boost to local food producers. She said for many rural people even the urban setting of Stanthorpe and Tenterfield is too unsettling, and Wallangarra/Jennings could offer the right rural outlook.
Mr Littleproud said other communities like Barcaldine have accessed a Building Better Regions grant to establish an aged care centre, bringing in a private operator.
“Don’t underestimate the economic flow-on of an aged care facility,” he said, “but it has to be a community effort.”
Promotion of the free camping facilities on both sides of the border was raised by another speaker, saying grey nomads are underpinning the growth of small towns like Tambo.
“You can lift a small town with a good caravan park,” he said.
Tourism signposting was another issue, with local resident Kerry Hampstead keen to claim Girraween National Park as a local attraction.
“Girraween is not just south of Stanthorpe,” she said. “It’s our back door.”
Cr Dobie said her council is going through a new branding and signage project (as is Tenterfield), but the private sector also has to take some responsibility for advertising.
Fifth-generation resident Carly Springborg very passionately presented her views on the deterioration of the community, saying she’s never been so scare for her children’s future.
“We’re thinking of getting out and not coming back because of the dangers, and we’re not the only family considering it,” she said. “The (public) toilets are disgusting, the parks aren’t mown properly, there’s no hub where you can take the family for a nice afternoon.”
She feels rates are a big factor in people not wanting to buy into the town, and she has to work extra hours to be able to afford to travel with her children to an activity.
“If the kids are happy, the parents are happy and will stay,” she said.
Mr Littleproud urged her not to give up.
“If good people give up, you can turn the lights off,” he said.
“Governments can’t do it all. It’s important to focus energy to empower the community and make a difference.”
He said he’d heard some quick wins on the day, but the gestation period for big wins like a aged care facility or a prison (“better the devil you know”, Mrs Springborg said), are going to take time.
“You’ve got to be smart about how you bring that forward.”
Mr Springborg said the community doesn’t have to reinvent the wheel, saying in his experience places like Yelarbon hold regular community meetings to progress ideas, with the input of the school principal, police and SES representatives. He said its council is now in the process of putting the construction of a skatepark out to tender, as a result of that community effort.
“You’ve got to formalise a process to take ideas, prioritise them and have a report-back process,” he said.
“Unless you formalise it, there will be more public meetings raising ideas, and meanwhile a skatepark could have been built.”