Weekly News Briefs - 1 January 2026

www.lockyervalley.qld.gov.au/school-holiday-activi...

Welcome to 2026!

As we ring in the new year, Council wishes all Lockyer Valley residents a happy, healthy and prosperous 2026! We look forward to delivering for our community once again this year and ensuring our vibrant region continues to thrive.

Council closures

A reminder that Council offices, Libraries, Visitor Information Centre and the Queensland Transport Museum are currently closed and will reopen on Monday 5 January.

Gatton Admin Building roof repairs

The hail damage roof repair project at the Gatton Administration Building has been extended until the end of January, weather permitting.

Customers can still find us at our temporary Gatton Customer Service Centre at 55 North Street, Gatton (opposite the Gatton Fire Station), where all the usual front counter services are available.

Learn more: www.lockyervalley.qld.gov.au/roof-repairs

Drop-in and Play at Withcott Sports Centre

This month, Council will host a series of FREE drop-in and play events at the Withcott Sports Centre! Sports on offer include basketball, futsal, pickleball, netball and badminton. Head down to the facility on the dates below and join in on the fun!

Multi-Sport Daytime Drop-Ins: 12pm to 4pm

• Tuesday, 6, 13 and 20 January
• Thursday, 8, 15 and 22 January

Basketball Nights: 5.30pm to 8pm

• Monday, 5, 12 and 19 January

Entry is FREE, no bookings required. Children under 12 years must be supervised by an adult.

New opening hours for Laidley Library in 2026

From Monday 5 January, Laidley Library will trial a new Wednesday evening service in lieu of its current Saturday morning hours. The late-night Wednesday service, opening until 6pm, will be trialled for six months.

Changes will also see the Laidley Library align with the Customer Service Centre’s operating hours and close at 4.30pm weekdays (except Wednesdays).

Make the most of our local pools

Looking for somewhere to cool off these holidays? Both the Lockyer Valley Aquatic Centre, Gatton and the Dal Ryan War Memorial Pool, Laidley are available for a dip. Check out the opening hours on their respective Facebook pages.

Council appoints Interim CEO

Council has appointed Scott Greensill as Interim CEO following the early retirement of longstanding CEO Ian Church.

With more than 40 years’ experience in local government, predominately in CEO and General Manager roles, Mr Greensill will fill the void over the next few months while Council recruits its next permanent CEO.

Mr Church, who will move into retirement at the end of January, will be sorely missed, and we thank him for his trusted and steady stewardship over the past nine years.

Council will announce its permanent CEO once recruitment processes are finalised.

School holiday activities

Find out all about the school holiday activities and events happening across the Lockyer Valley by heading to www.lockyervalley.qld.gov.au/school-holiday-activi...

Containers for Change

During the holidays, recycling bins can fill up quickly. Make room and pocket some extra cash by separating empty bottles and taking them to a local Container Recycling Scheme drop-off point:

• Gatton Transfer Station
• Return-It on Industrial Road, Gatton
• Laidley Transfer Station
• Queensland Container Recycling, Laidley

Don’t forget your scheme ID!

Prepare now for the storm and bushfire season

To understand your risks and help you plan and prepare, read the handy Lockyer Valley Get Ready Guide: www.lockyervalley.qld.gov.au/beforeadisaster

And don’t forget to visit Council’s Disaster Dashboard disaster.lvrc.qld.gov.au to stay up to date and find information on:

• Road conditions
• Warning and alerts
• Power outages
• Rainfall and river heights
• Flood monitoring cameras
• Emergency news
• Emergency contacts
• Tips on getting disaster ready and more

Waste facilities and Tip Shop hours

To view Council’s transfer station and Tip Shop opening hours during the holiday period, visit www.lockyervalley.qld.gov.au/waste-facilities

Don’t bin your batteries!

If you’re looking to get rid of old gadgets or toys to make way for the new ones received at Christmas, please ensure you remove any batteries first before disposing of them!

Batteries must not be placed in any wheelie bin as they can spark fires and leach toxins into the environment. Instead, tape each end with sticky tape and drop them off at a local B-Cycle recycling point:

• Coles Gatton
• Aldi Gatton
• Return-It Gatton
• Mitre 10 Gatton
• Woolworths Plainland
• Aldi Plainland
• Bunnings Warehouse Plainland
• Foodworks Withcott

New Art Exhibit – Lockyer Valley Art Gallery

The Lockyer Valley Art Gallery is currently showcasing a striking new exhibition, Distomorph.

This exhibit will be on display at the Lockyer Valley Art Gallery from 5 to 25 January 2026. Entry is free.