Gabbinbar Homestead owners win approval to build 54 new houses

The owners of renowned wedding venue Gabbinbar Homestead have won council approval to build more than 50 new houses on neighbouring land in Middle Ridge.

A new subdivision has been approved next door to the famous Gabbinbar Homestead.

The owners of highly-rated destination wedding venue Gabbinbar Homestead has been approved to subdivide a neighbouring parcel they also own to create lots for more than 50 new houses.

Noted Toowoomba developers Barry and Mitchell Bernoth were given the green light on Tuesday for a reconfiguration of a 4.48-hectare parcel in Middle Ridge, next door to Gabbinbar, to make new residential lots.

The 54 new parcels range from 500 to 723 sqm and will be serviced by what is essentially a cul-de-sac extending out from Large St to the east.

Gabbinbar Homestead owner Barry Bernoth has been approved by the Toowoomba Regional Council for a 54-lot subdivision in Middle Ridge, created out of land that previously belonged to the wedding venue.

“The proposal will provide additional housing stock and increased dwelling diversity within an area designated for residential expansion,” the planning report by JFP Consultants said.

It replaces the Bernoths’ previous plans for a much larger project on the same plot, which would’ve included a 53-unit retirement village run by Oak Tree Group and a 46-unit development that was appealed by neighbouring residents.

Barry Bernoth at Gabbinbar Homestead. Photo Dave Noonan / The Chronicle

A major source of that discontent from locals surrounded the use of Large St as the sole access point to the site, which is considered a local road.

This issue arose during the council’s assessment of the new subdivision, with planning officer Alice Ssu-Chieh Pai raising concerns around interconnectivity and emergency access.

An applicant-funded traffic impact assessment argued the planned layout was appropriate, believing an egress from Brimblecombe Dr should be maintained to allow emergency vehicles like ambulances and fire trucks to enter should Large St become blocked off.

Ms Ssu-Chieh Pai recommended approval of the subdivision, accepting the noncompliance around the second entrance due to constraints of the land and heritage requirements relating to the neighbouring homestead.

The developers will need to dedicate a new detention basin on the site to the council, add acoustic barriers to mitigate noise emitted from Gabbinbar during weddings and create a concrete access and bollards for emergency use between Large St and Brimblecombe Dr.

Originally published as Gabbinbar Homestead owners win approval to build 54 new houses