Plans to demolish historic footy oval for servo, kindy

ONE of the oldest suburban rugby league grounds in Toowoomba faces bulldozing, with plans submitted to turn it into a servo and kindy.

ONE of the oldest suburban rugby league grounds in Toowoomba faces bulldozing, with plans submitted to turn it into a service station and a 100-place childcare centre.

Developer Glenvale Central Pty Ltd put forward the first two of several plans for the old Newtown Football Club grounds at the intersection of Hursley and McDougall Sts in Glenvale.

The football grounds, currently owned by Rumours International boss Jim Aspromourgos and his brother John, have remained abandoned and vacant since the Newtown Lions were ejected from the Toowoomba Rugby League in 2012.

Jim Aspromourgos owns the Newtown Football Grounds land. Picture: Kevin Farmer

The application is one of several proposed commercial developments planned for the four-hectare block of land.

In the submissions to the TRC, Precinct Urban Planning's Jess Garratt wrote that the service station would have enough parks for 18 cars, several doubled-sided fuel bowsers and a fast-food outlet.

The building would be complemented by a covered fuel forecourt which would accommodate eight double-sided bowsers and carparks for 18 cars, plus a small rigid service vehicle," she wrote.

"Vehicular and pedestrian access to the site would be from both McDougall Street and Hursley Road.

"The subject land has most recently been used as the Newtown Football Club grounds, but is currently abandoned."

Ms Garratt is also handling the town planning for Glenvale Central's proposal of a 100-place childcare centre in the south-east corner of the block.

The entire area is covered by the benefit of a "preliminary approval varying the effect of the planning scheme", which was approved by the council in 2016.

The overall proposal from DGM Group last year will include a tavern and motel, shops, indoor sports areas and more residential housing.

The council is yet to make a decision on the proposals, which are both code-assessable and don't require community input.

Rugby league action at Newtown Football Grounds. Picture: Paul Ellison

Originally published as Plans to demolish historic footy oval for servo, kindy