Toowoomba and Darling Downs powering ahead
FROM THE OFFICE OF DR JOHN MCVEIGH ACROSS Australia, the Toowoomba and Darling Downs region has become synonymous with innovation, entrepreneurship, growth and opportunity.
Our established reputation as a place of quality schools, rich farming land and expert medical services has been drastically expanded, with the region now offering untapped potential for business and lifestyle.
Both public and private sector investments have played a key role in delivering the crucial infrastructure needed to support a region on the rise.
There have been landmark projects like the privately funded Wellcamp Airport and Grand Central Shopping Centre, and the Federal and State Government funded $1.6 billion Toowoomba Second Range Crossing.
Warrego Highway upgrades continue and soon, Inland Rail will transform freight transport through our region.
A business case is also underway exploring options for passenger rail from Toowoomba to Brisbane.
Superfast broadband has been delivered across most of our region — one of the first regions in Australia with access to the NBN.
Indeed, technology is becoming one of the region’s strengths with the $40 million Pulse Data Centre recently opening its doors in Toowoomba, designed to be the start of a Technology Park for the city.
Our unique defence architecture also presents significant opportunities with the Oakey Army Aviation Centre, Singapore’s 126 Helicopter Squadron, and the Borneo Barracks at Cabalah, all housed within our broad region.
Of course, sitting in the middle of all this major infrastructure investment, are the small businesses that are the bedrock of Toowoomba’s strong economy.
Our region has more than 16,000 small businesses that employ tens of thousands of local residents.
We must support our business community and be proud of the many strong and resilient small businesses that we have in our communities.
It is certainly a great privilege to represent this region in our Federal Parliament and, like any region and community, we have challenges still to address, but with visionary citizens, proactive governments, a strong small business sector and new and emerging industries, the future of this region looks bright indeed.