There was a sense of collective effort getting things done at the WQLGA conference

Outgoing president, Barcaldine mayor Rob Chandler said he didn’t think there had been a better level of trust between local government in the west and other levels of government.

“We’re working towards a rolling program of infrastructure and works, not just programs that last six months, so we can plan and develop our communities with confidence,” he said. “In the next 20 years, you’re going to see a transformation of local government and I’m excited.”

Central Highlands mayor, Kerry Hayes, was elected president for 2017, while Longreach mayor Ed Warren is senior vice-president and Blackall-Tambo mayor Andrew Martin is junior vice president.

Four LNP politicians – Senator Barry O’Sullivan, Queensland opposition leader Tim Nicholls, opposition spokesman for tourism, sport and racing Jon Krause, and the Member for Gregory, Lachlan Millar – were present for the first morning and answered delegates’ questions.

Mr O’Sullivan emphasised the federal government’s support for big ticket water and roads infrastructure, saying it demonstrated a realisation of the significance of rural industries.

“You people administer an area that produces 66 per cent of the nation’s beef production, and much of it is exported,” he said. “You have a power that you don’t exercise as often as you ought to, and you need to speak with one voice.”

An announcement by Queensland opposition leader, Tim Nicholls, of guaranteed funding levels for the Transport and Infrastructure Development Scheme was welcomed by Gregory MP, Lachlan Millar, who said that some roads affecting his region – the Blackall-Jericho Road and the Torrens Creek Road – had as little as 30km of unsealed work left.

“We should get that done,” he said.

He called on the government to “lead by example” and provide more infrastructure funding for communities in their third and fourth years of drought.

The effect of ongoing drought was also mentioned by Mr O’Sullivan, who said the resilience of western people never ceased to amaze him.

“I asked colleagues in the party room to imagine that two-thirds of businesses in their electorate had ceased to operate, and that their schools had lost a third of their enrolments – it was a real turning point for them,” he said, commenting on the value of the Drought Communities Money given out late last year.