Toowoomba Hosts Final Session of Regional Mayors Summit on Infrastructure and Water Security

Regional Mayors Convene for Final Session

Today marks the conclusion of a high-stakes, two-day summit in Toowoomba as the Darling Downs and South West Queensland Council of Mayors (DDSWQCoM) meets to finalize a unified political agenda. Hosted by the Toowoomba Regional Council, the session brings together mayors and chief executive officers from ten regional local governments, including Toowoomba, Western Downs, Southern Downs, Maranoa, Goondiwindi, Balonne, Quilpie, Murweh, Paroo, and Bulloo.

Toowoomba Region Mayor Geoff McDonald, who serves as the Chair of the DDSWQCoM, emphasized that the primary goal of today’s session is to ensure the region speaks with a single, powerful voice to both state and federal governments. The leaders are focused on securing long-term investment to support the region’s role in food security, energy production, and the national freight network.

Key Agenda Items and Strategic Priorities

The discussions scheduled for today center on several critical pillars for regional development:

• Water Security: A major focus remains on the $80 million safety upgrade for the Cressbrook Dam, a project vital for the long-term water reliability of downstream communities and the broader Toowoomba region.
• Infrastructure and Freight: Mayors are reviewing advocacy plans for critical freight routes and strategic highway investments to better connect the region’s agricultural and energy hubs to international markets.
• Telecommunications: Addressing digital connectivity gaps in rural and remote communities remains a top priority to ensure equitable access to services and economic opportunities.
• 2032 Olympics: The session is also exploring regional opportunities linked to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, particularly in sports tourism and talent pathways.

Cross-Border Collaboration

Today's meeting also includes a formal briefing with the new Permanent Cross-Border Commissioner, Bob Gee. The presence of the Commissioner is intended to streamline communications and resolve long-standing policy hurdles that affect the border communities within the DDSWQCoM membership. This follows the Toowoomba Regional Council’s recent release of its 2026/27 Budget Advocacy Priorities, which include a $30 million request for the first stage of the Toowoomba Region Sports Precinct and $3 million for enhanced public transport connectivity.

As the session concludes, Mayor McDonald is expected to hold a final press briefing to outline the specific resolutions that will be carried forward to Brisbane and Canberra in the coming weeks. Local leaders hope this unified front will lead to significant commitments in the upcoming state and federal budget cycles.