By Dominique Tassell
Southern Downs Regional Council (SDRC) reviewed the draft Terms of Reference for the proposed Condamine Catchment Regional Alliance at the last Ordinary Council Meeting and invited multiple organisations to be members.
SDRC, Condamine Sports Club, Historic Leyburn Sprints Inc, Jumpers & Jazz in July, Morgan Park User Group, Warwick Chamber of Commerce (WCoC); and Warwick Show & Rodeo Society were all invited to join.
The motion referenced SDRC’s decision to endorse its participation in the Granite Belt Alliance (GBA) last year.
Discussions have since been held between SDRC and WCoC in relation to forming an Alliance along the lines of the successful GBA.
The genesis of the discussions with the WCoC was reportedly a meeting with Teilah McKelvey from Warwick Show and Rodeo Society on 18 February 2021 in relation to a more coordinated approach to major events.
A draft Terms of Reference has been prepared and circulated to the President of the Warwick Chamber of Commerce who is supportive of proceeding with the Alliance.
It has been discussed and agreed in principle between SDRC and the WCoC that they should start with a modestly sized group with members that represent an established organisation with a committee or some other structure behind them.
The agenda stated that a review can be undertaken in relation to membership once the Alliance has established itself taking into account the issues that the group feel they need to progress.
A further report will come to Council after the consultation with other suggested member organisations has been undertaken.
Councillor Stephen Tancred requested to be assured that the GBA and Condamine Alliance terms of reference were similar.
SDRC CEO Dave Burges responded that “by and large, they’re very very similar”.
Councillor Marco Gliori asked whether this alliance may represent the north of the region in regards to tourism.
He stated that Scenic Rim has just been recognised by Lonely Planet as one of the top ten places to visit, and we may be able to benefit from this.
Councillor Gliori also raised concerns about the name, stating he supported the strategy but the name may need work.
He stated people may assume it is a water alliance.
Concerns have also been raised over the name sounding too similar to the previous Condamine Alliance located in Toowoomba, which was concerned with environmental and sustainability issues.
Councillor Gliori stated that a name such as Condamine Country Alliance might work, which would match with the Art Trail held this past weekend.
SDRC Mayor Vic Pennisi stated for him, it was more about the outcome of the alliance than the name of it.
CEO Dave Burges stated that the name was not set in stone and that he had thought “I’ll just get something up and then, as the Mayor said, the group would like to talk about that”.
“Similar to membership, you could throw out another 20 names but the criteria that we’ve started with is that they represent an organisation, so there’s some structure behind where they come from as members.”
“They have a committee, they have members, they do something, they’re established.”
He stated similar to the GBA, after the first meeting he expected that the alliance would evolve as would the name.
Councillor McNally raised concerns over the name, and also with the membership.
She questioned whether Condamine Sports Club should be included, or if that was supposed to be the Condamine Rivers Sports Group, which she referred to as their previous name, the Queens Park Users Group.
“Condamine Sports Club only represents five clubs down at that area,” she said.
“It doesn’t include the soccer, it doesn’t include the AFL, it doesn’t include the touch football association, it doesn’t include the two junior rugby league clubs.
“So it probably would be better to have the Queens Park Users Group as is the Morgan Park User Group on that rather than the Condamine Sports Club.”
She stated she would also like to see the arts represented, and have the Warwick Art Gallery included.
The motion was moved by Councillor Gliori, and seconded by Councillor Sheryl Windle.
