General News
26 March, 2025
Solid data needed for cross-border solutions: mayors
Fixing problems won't be possible without the necessary data, say the Mount Isa and Barkly mayors.
The Mount Isa and Barkly councils want cross-border commissioner Ian Leavers to extend his planned “social mapping” program to better understand the strain placed on local social services by itinerant problem drinkers in our region.
Mr Leavers told state parliament last week that he planned to pursue “social mapping” at the Queensland-NSW border at Goondiwindi, which would survey government agencies and social services to provide more exact data on the community areas under pressure at the border.
However, Mount Isa mayor Peta MacRae and Barkly mayor Sid Vashist have called on this mapping to be extended to their shared border.
Cr Vashist said the areas of concern had to first be accurately identified before any issues could be resolved.
“We are repeatedly told there is a problem with people going back and forth over the border – well, are they?” he said.
“We need to find out how many there are, where they are going and what services they are using. Facts and figures are needed to understand the issues – until we have that data set, we cannot comment accurately on the problems.
“We actually have some service providers aligned with the federal government that do help people in Mount Isa and Camooweal and across in the Territory, as well.
“So it is a complex issue and until we get that social mapping completed, we don’t have an accurate idea of exactly what is going on.”
Cr MacRae said the newly reinstated alliance planned to speak with Mr Leavers about the need for social mapping.
“We need to look at the push and pull factors around people coming across the border and the causes behind that,” she said.