Community, business, tourism and industry needs will be front and centre with a new strategic alliance of leading industry bodies working collaboratively to promote and develop regional interests.
Following the success of the Granite Belt Alliance which was formed in February 2021 to focus on the promotion of business and tourism interests surrounding Stanthorpe and the Granite Belt, Council will now further extend the model to partner with the business and tourism interests in Warwick and surrounds. The proposed leading industry bodies to spearhead the alliance include Condamine River Sports Group, Historic Leyburn Sprints Inc, Jumpers & Jazz in July, Morgan Park User Group, Warwick Chamber of Commerce and Warwick Show & Rodeo Society.
Southern Downs Mayor Vic Pennisi said the alliance represented a good cross-section of invested community organisations which could also evolve in the future to include additional organisations as needed. “Collectively, the proposed alliance will be united in its vision and determination to see the entire Southern Downs region thrive and prosper,” Mayor Pennisi said.
“By singing from the same song sheet, this new collaboration will allow local leading bodies to share resources and information to achieve tangible results for the region sooner. The interests of business across the region will be thoroughly covered through the two alliances. There are certainly advantages in offering a coordinated approach to regional issues and projects, especially
when it comes to communicating and representing the region to all levels of government,” he said.
“This model offers opportunities to provide better coordination and cohesion between the various groups and Council, and I look forward to working with these groups to see the whole region reach its full potential.”
Councillor Jo McNally also supported the initiative and expressed an interest for the new northern alliance to incorporate representatives from the arts industry given the role arts and culture play across the region. While the new alliance will initially operate under the working name Condamine Catchment Regional Alliance, Councillors recommended a more inclusive name be discussed at the group’s first meeting which befitted the collective identity of the northern region.
Readers also enjoyed our story about Federal Funding for SRAG
