The Chronicle

Fantastic support from our community

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ON BEHALF of the management committee, staff and volunteers at the Toowoomba Hospice, we would sincerely like to thank the community groups, schools, clubs, individual­s and businesses of Toowoomba and surroundin­g districts for choosing the Toowoomba Hospice as one of their preferred charities during 2017.

This year we celebrated 14 years of providing profession­al palliative care for clients and at the same time provided support to their families and friends.

We would not have been able to do this without our dedicated team of staff and volunteers.

We must also acknowledg­e the continued support of The Chronicle newspaper as well as all other media outlets and we look forward this ongoing support in 2018.

Finally, on behalf of all the team at the Toowoomba Hospice we would like to take this opportunit­y once again to thank all our supporters for their generosity in 2017 and to wish them the very best for the festive season.

We look forward to working with you all in 2018. — GRAHAM BARRON AND MARK MUNRO, Toowoomba Hospice

End of year

2018 is just about on us and the coming year promises to be a pivotal year in the ongoing story of our region.

If we look at what we have, it is evident that we

have an environmen­t as good as any in Australia and, for that matter, most other countries.

We have an ideal temperatur­e range and low air pollution. We are a peaceful city which welcomes everyone.

If we examine our potential, we have large areas within 10km west of the escarpment suitable for future residences and indeed for residences much further in the future than can be imagined.

All of this has little value for agricultur­e. As a result, the cost of land for houses is kept relatively constant and we are able to tell the world that our median price for dwellings will not climb to the ridiculous figures of capital cities.

Immediatel­y to the west of this residentia­l strip is a vast area of land being developed for industry.

Again, as with housing land, the sheer size of suitable land means that

average cost of industrial land should remain fairly stable.

We have an airport capable of reaching a vast population to our north at a lower cost than competitor­s. There is vast intense farming area in the Lockyer capable of great expansion in production if they access additional water.

This is available at a low cost from the water treatment works in Ipswich and western Brisbane through the proposed Liverpool Range Tunnel at Laidley.

2018 is pivotal in the developmen­t of Toowoomba. In the latter half of 2018, the Second Toowoomba Range Crossing will be opened. The Toowoomba Viaduct will be an icon which will be extensivel­y publicised.

It is all too evident that there are many in Sydney and Melbourne, both workers and entreprene­urs who realise that they live in a city which is too large for

comfort and Toowoomba offers everything for a fraction of the cost.

They will be able to tell the world that the Inland Rail is going to open up Toowoomba in a manner hard to visualise.

Our produce and our industries will have perfect access to all the main population centres of our country and be able to cut the prices of these goods because the land on which they operate is only a fraction of the cost in the major cities. Their access to Wellcamp Airport will be a great money spinner for many a worker.

It goes without saying, our mayor and councillor­s are fully aware of the potential of this event and I am certain they are working hard to make sure that this opportunit­y will not be missed. — PETER SHERIDAN, Kearneys Spring

 ?? PHOTO: KEVIN FARMER ?? HOSPICE HELP: The organising committee featuring (from left) Emma Rae, chair Katie Rae and Chloe Ainscow at Toowoomba Hospice masquerade ball earlier this year.
PHOTO: KEVIN FARMER HOSPICE HELP: The organising committee featuring (from left) Emma Rae, chair Katie Rae and Chloe Ainscow at Toowoomba Hospice masquerade ball earlier this year.

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