Plenty of plain talking is doing the rounds in the Jimboomba region

Many residents are getting up to speed on the Inland Rail project, projected to be rolling past their homes by 2024-25, and those with concerns are banding together in a working group to keep the information flowing through the community.

Others are preparing to pose questions to local representatives about the shameful state of the Mount Lindesay Highway, with its high crash toll inspiring the controversial name of the meeting – Highway to Hell.

The Jimboomba Fire Station is getting real about what the fire services can and cannot do in the event of a major bushfire in the district, encouraging us to prepare our properties and make plans to survive.

Then there are the multiple local petitions before the state government about traffic congestion and upgrades to the road network; the collective watchful eyes on the housing development; justifiable concerns about the roll-out of the National Broadband Network in our suburbs, and a national survey on marriage equality just ahead.

There’s a sense that we’ve had enough of being pushed around by forces that seem beyond our control, and it’s understandable to take a moment and ask ourselves what can each of us realistically do?

Making comments on social media is a short-term way to feel better, whereas turning up to a public meeting is a visible show of support that can mean a lot to organisers who are sticking their necks out.

Signing a petition has a similar impact, but so too can just talking to our neighbours about something that matters to us and our families.

With a state election in the wind, and a federal government dogged by the potential for by-elections over dual citizenship breaches, we can only hope the politicians are listening to what we’re saying.

With the volume up this high, there’s really no excuses for them.