General News
11 September, 2025
Meetings to be held for new Shire proposal
Proponents for the creation of a new shire council will shortly begin plans to conduct a series of public meetings across the affected area.
The group pushing for the new local authority is made up of former councillors and prominent citizens.
They are calling for the area covered by Toowoomba Regional Council to be reduced in size.
It is envisaged that the areas covered by the former Clifton, Pittsworth and Millmerran shires along with rural sectors of the former Cambooya and Jondaryan shires be combined to create the new shire.
Included in the group is former Toowoomba Regional Councillor and ex-Clifton Shire Deputy Mayor Anne Glasheen.
Mrs Glasheen said one of the reasons a new shire is needed is that the large increase in Regional Council rates does not equal money spent in rural areas.
“If you look at the budget papers there isn’t anything listed to be spent here,” she said.
“The transport levy is a great example of receiving money from ratepayers who will never receive any return on this.
“It would take a miracle to have public transport in our area.
“I would much prefer to pay a environment levy and actually have that money spent on weeds.”
Mrs Glasheen said trying to find someone to speak with at TRC and then get something done is virtually impossible.
“Nearly two years ago I spoke to someone about planting trees...where the dog show is in the [Clifton] rec grounds....nothing has happened.”
Mrs Glasheen believes the level of service being given is not what it should be for residents in rural towns.
“How come in some townships the mowers go around all the streets but here they don’t,” she asked.
“Mowing in summer needs to happen more often and on footpaths.”
Initial public meetings to discuss the issue will be in Clifton, Pittsworth, Millmerran with the likelihood of meetings in smaller localities such as Felton, Jondaryan, Mt. Tyson and Brookstead to follow.
