General News
8 February, 2023
Positive outlook for Clifton’s future
Despite the anger expressed by some Cliftonites at the closure of the NAB, many people feel the town’s future is bright and while change in our modern society is ongoing, it is not always a sign of doomsday.
A quick walk around the town shows few, if any, business premises are empty, a sight not replicated in many of Queensland’s rural towns.
While many towns are experiencing negative population growth, Clifton’s population is increasing, even if slowly.
Any attempt to buy or rent a home in Clifton will show there is very little available stock on offer, indicating there is demand for residential premises, surely a good sign.
The proposed residential subdivision of forty blocks at the junction of Wiedman Road and Clark Street is another positive sign of progress for the town.
Manager of O’Shanley’s Irish Hotel, Amanda Beatson, expressed her disappointment with the closure of the NAB but felt equally optimistic regarding the town and hoped another bank, such as the Warwick Credit Union or similar, would eventually fill the space.
Trevor Bange of the Lone Eagle Flying School expressed similar thoughts about the NAB closure but was again optimistic about the town’s future.
Bange’s airfield will again hold a “fly-in“ of light aircraft enthusiasts in early March when he expects over thirty light aircraft to arrive and stay the night.
While the number of visiting aircraft is well down on previous years it highlights one of the small but useful advantages Clifton holds in attracting visitors with the promise of expansion in the years ahead.
Another optimistic sign of Clifton’s viability is the opening of a new business in the town, ‘Dusty’s Clifton’, a café due to open later in the month.
Clifton has many advantages over similar sized rural towns and some are possibly yet to reach their full potential.
The Southern Downs Steam Railway is one such attraction and Clifton Railway Station Coordinator for the Progress Association Maureen Mitchell said the trains brought many visitors into Clifton but ran on an irregular basis with one in January and February but another train not expected until June.
Other attractions in the region include Darling Downs Zoo, Clifton Museum, polo fields, race course and R.V. facilities available at O’Shanley’s Hotel and the Clifton Recreation Grounds.
When sporting facilities such as the town tennis courts, the golf club, swimming pool and bowls club are taken into account it is clear Clifton is rich in people friendly facilities.
However, it might just be that what eventually gives Clifton its biggest lift has not yet crystallised in the mind of a local or out of town entrepreneur.
The Clifton Megafauna Experience Centre was an idea that had potential but unfortunately has not materialised.
Many rural towns hold music festivals and food festivals to attract visitors and this is an avenue Clifton may one day explore.
The Felton Food Festival was very successful during the years it was held in the 2010s.
Further afield, the Chinchilla Melon Festival, due to be held next weekend, has attracted many thousands of tourists to the Western Downs.
Regardless of setbacks and disappointments Clifton appears to be a town with a healthy ‘glass half full’ attitude to its future.
