New Grantham to be a boom town

GRANTHAM could become a Lockyer Valley hub once its new post-flood estate is complete.

Grantham is set for a major growth after its post-flood rebuilding. Picture: David Nielsen

GRANTHAM could become a Lockyer Valley hub once its new post-flood estate is complete.

The once sleepy town could be the home to 300 new residents, the new Lockyer Valley Showgrounds and a stop on the proposed Gowrie to Grandchester Rail Corridor.

Lockyer Valley mayor Steve Jones spoke about the potential for the town to boom once redevelopment is complete to the visiting members of the Parliamentary committee inquiring into the operation of insurance companies during disasters.

The plans for the new Grantham also include a road link directly onto the Warrego Hwy and space for a new high school.

Cr Jones said the council was confident Grantham could become a far bigger town than it has ever been.

We're developing some extra blocks here for people to buy in," he said.

"There are a lot of people who have interests in Toowoomba and Brisbane ... we're between the two and we're going to have access onto the highway.

"So what's going to happen now is, they are now interested in buying land here."

"We could have, potentially, up to 300 or 400 new families move into the estate once it's finished," he said.

Cr Jones said with the show growing at a rapid rate, the council had decided to move the region's showgrounds from Gatton to a new site at Grantham.

The proposed showgrounds would be located between the new estate and the highway. "Unlike a number of other country towns whose shows are struggling, our show is going from strength to strength and we need a new location for it," Cr Jones said.

The movement of new residents into Grantham is still some time away, being described by Cr Jones as "round two."

The first stages of the new town are nearing completion, with the first roads and sidewalks already sealed.

Cr Jones said he expected

the first house to begin construction in coming days, with the resident's bank expected to settle on Friday.

The current site of Grantham will not be ignored however, with the area to be developed into the "Grantham Village market place" for the town's day-to-day commercial operations.

However, Cr Jones said he was open to seeing some commercial ventures, including the recently demolished Grantham Hotel, being moved into the residential estate.

IN THE PLAN

The new Grantham will include a raft of new features for the town.

A new showgrounds for the entire Lockyer Valley will take over from the current Gatton showgrounds and will include an access road to the Warrego Hwy.

Space will be left undeveloped for a new school, while a memorial park will be created along Harris St to remember the nine people who died in January's floods.

Originally published as New Grantham to be a boom town