Road safety important over Easter

With the annual Easter holiday break underway, meaning an increase in traffic along main arterial roads in the Toowoomba Region, local police are doing their bit to help keep the roads safe by joining another state-wide campaign.

Operation Victor Easter, the 2023 Easter Road Safety campaign, aims to remind motorists there are no excuses when it comes to road safety during these school holidays.

It began on Saturday, April 1 and will continue until Sunday, April 16, encompassing the Easter long weekend, in what is expected to be a very busy time on Queensland’s roads.

Police will conduct targeted operations and maintain a highly visible presence on highways and roads to reduce trauma and fatalities across Queensland.

Police are aware that many Queenslanders will be taking road trips into unfamiliar areas throughout the holiday period and are urging motorists to avoid the fatal five: speeding, drink or drug driving, not wearing a seatbelt, driving tired and distracted driving.

increase for our residents and Council.

“Despite these challenges, we’ve had a high response of people paying their rates early which we’re grateful for when we know how much financial pressure our community is under.”

Cr McDonald said Council has also allocated additional funds towards the installation of automatic number plate recognition cameras to assist the Queensland Police Service with increased community safety.

“To help offset this expenditure, Council has seen an increase on interest revenue due to consecutive interest rates increases. In addition to this, our income is tracking above budget on development lodgement fees and there has also been increased income due to higher than expected usage of our community venues and the Jondaryan Woolshed,” he said.

“It’s great to see our facilities being well-used by our residents and could also be a sign of how our community is moving out of a covid phase and back to business as usual.

“With cost price rises continuing to fluctuate, it’s crucial for Council to stay within its key financial sustainability measures which are monitored by the State Government.

“Our credit rating of sound with a neutral outlook will be challenged over the coming ten years with so many large multi-generational projects on our books that puts our position under pressure, however at this stage there is no indication our position will change in the short term.”