Weekly News Briefs - 21 May 2026

Changes to Gatton Showgrounds

Council has installed a temporary fence to reduce unauthorised access to the Gatton Showgrounds grandstand and will lock all external gates from Friday 29 May.

This change is necessary to deal with unauthorised camping and activities causing a range of issues with authorised bookings, as well as managing longer-term unauthorised use of various parts of the overall showgrounds.

Council has notified regular authorised showground user groups, including LifeFlight via Queensland Ambulance, Gatton, which will continue to have full access via provided keys.

We thank the community for working with us on this issue.

Upcoming Grantham Siren testing

Council will undertake a test activation of the Grantham Flood Warning Siren on Monday 1 June at 12pm.

The test will include a siren tone followed by a verbal message informing people in low-lying areas to move to higher ground.

This is a TEST ONLY and no cause for alarm.

Testing time is a great opportunity for community members to review their own evacuation plans, including when they will leave and what routes they will take (noting roads can be cut off quickly once flooding starts).

The siren was installed in 2014 to alert the community to significant safety risks including loss of life and is not used for low-level flooding in general.

In an actual flooding event, residents should not wait to hear the siren, but should plan to leave early if likely to be flood affected

Visit the Plainland Council Pop-Up

Come along to the next Council Pop-Up for 2026 at Plainland Country Markets THIS Sunday, 24 May from 7am to 12pm (subject to weather).

Enjoy a great opportunity to not only meet Councillors and Council staff, but to also:

• ask questions

• provide feedback on consultation projects

• stay up to date on Council initiatives.

For more information, visit: www.lockyervalley.qld.gov.au/have-your-say.

Upcoming Floodway Works at Mount Berryman

This month, Council crews will begin reconstructing the Mount Berryman floodway, with completion expected by the end of July (weather permitting).

Located 100m north of Berlin Road, the floodway will undergo a range of improvements to boost its longevity and flood resilience, including:

Traffic management will be in place throughout the works, with a temporary single lane sidetrack on the upstream side of the current crossing utilised for a portion of the works.

For more information, visit www.lockyervalley.qld.gov.au/current-works

National Simultaneous Storytime!

Later this month we're joining libraries and schools nationwide to read 'Luna Roo the Kangaroo Baller' by Adam Jackson and Adrian Lloyd as part of National Simultaneous Storytime. Last year, more than 2.3 million children took part at over 20,000 locations!

This special Storytime features songs, games, rhymes and plenty of fun.

WHERE: Gatton Library

WHEN: Wednesday 27 May, 10am

Bookings Essential: https://tinyurl.com/4kjx9xcu

Calling all community groups and sporting clubs!

Are you part of a community group or sporting club—big or small, incorporated or auspiced? Does Council have your contact email address on file?

By updating your details with Council’s Engagement Team, you’ll:

• Be subscribed to our Community Connect capacity building newsletter (or On the Ball newsletter for sporting clubs)
• Be the first to hear about free capacity building opportunities (like grant writing workshops)
• Receive early notification when community grant rounds open

It is a simple way to stay informed and supported—no matter what stage your group is at.

Check or update your group’s contact email by emailing engagement@lvrc.qld.gov.au or calling 1300 005 872.