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Western Downs Regional Council has partnered with the Queensland Government, with the state providing $2.4 million toward the $4.8 million upgrade of the popular recreational spot, which complements earlier improvements delivered by the Tara Futures Group.

Mayor Paul McVeigh said the project would drive economic activity in Tara by enticing more visitors to the area.

“This is a fantastic asset for the local community, offering a chance to head outdoors and make the most of their surroundings, but it’s also a fantastic tourism driver for the town,” Cr McVeigh said.

“By offering modern facilities and fantastic camping opportunities, we encourage more visitors to stay in our towns, spend money in our local businesses, and promote the people that make the Western Downs such a great place to visit.”

Cr McVeigh said the upgrades had delivered safe, modern facilities that promote the natural beauty of the Lagoon Parklands.

“This project which has delivered a variety of exciting new facilities including a beautiful new boardwalk over the lagoon, nearly one kilometre of new concrete footpaths, water bubblers, fire pits, picnic settings, significant landscaping, new barbeque areas, new amenities and new bitumen roads,” he said.

“This is a great example of Government and community working together to achieve a fantastic outcome for the area, and I thank the Tara Futures Group for their integral role in the projects.

“The Tara Lagoon Parklands project was fast-tracked under Council’s COVID-19 Recovery Package to secure and create jobs and boost our region’s liveability, and it’s great to see this fantastic project completed in time for the Christmas holiday period.

“It’s also a huge credit to the Tara Futures Group for having the original vision to revitalise the area and build a lasting legacy for their town, and I commend them for their work on the project.” 

The Tara Lagoon Parklands Revitalisation is delivered in partnership with the Queensland Government’s Building our Regions (BoR) Fund.

Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning Steven Miles said projects such as the Tara Lagoon Revitalisation Project funded by BoR are designed to deliver long term benefits for regional Queensland communities.

“With a funding commitment of more than $348 million BoR supports local government planning and construction infrastructure projects that create economic, community and jobs growth,” Mr Miles said.

“The exciting new features unveiled as part of the revitalised Tara Lagoon Parklands now make this a must-see destination for visitors and the local Tara Community.”