Toowoomba CBD-fringe luxury units by FKG Group approved by council

The plan for 19 luxury units on the edge of the Toowoomba CBD has cleared a major hurdle. Here’s when the developers expect construction to start.

Toowoomba's FKG Group has been approved for plans to build a new seven-storey apartment tower along Kitchener Street, overlooking Mothers Memorial. Designs by Feather and Lawry.

A set of luxury units on the fringe of the Toowoomba CBD could start construction within months after securing approval from the council.

Toowoomba Region councillors voted unanimously at Wednesday’s special meeting to endorse developer FKG Group’s luxury units, slated for a vacant lot along Kitchener St in East Toowoomba.

According to the plans, the set of 19 units across seven storeys will include two penthouse floors, while the roof will be a private terrace and wellness retreat, featuring a pool, spa, gym, yoga room and entertainment area.

Toowoomba's FKG Group’s plans for a new seven-storey apartment tower along Kitchener Street, overlooking Mothers Memorial. Designs by Feather and Lawry.

This is the second time FKG Group has tried to build luxury apartments on the site, having scuppered a $45m apartment block nearly a decade ago due to a lower-than-anticipated take-up.

But a spokesman for the major Toowoomba company said there would be no delays this time around, with construction to start in the second half of the year.

FKG Group executive chairman and Toowoomba business identity Gary Gardner. Picture by Andrew Coates, Salt Studios

Executive chairman Gary Gardner, who is running for council in the upcoming election, told NewsCorp some of the units had already been secured.

“Toowoomba’s luxury housing market has continued to grow from strength to strength, with houses in our premier suburbs now selling for millions of dollars,” he said in November.

“Three of this development’s executive residences are already pre-committed.

“Now is the time for a new level of quality residences in the heart of the Toowoomba CBD, giving downsizers and city lifestyle seekers the best of both worlds, luxury and convenience.”

The project has earnt praise from real estate experts, with some arguing it could be a litmus test for the unit market.

“Toowoomba has come ahead in leaps and bounds and the money being spent here to purchase property is significant,” Real Estate Institute of Queensland’s Toowoomba chair Daniel Burrett said last year.

“We’ve had two East Toowoomba properties sell for more than $4m in six months (and) when East Toowoomba people sell their properties, they want to stay but they don’t want the land so there is a market for some of these high-end units.

“I just rang a mate of mine and he was looking forward to it, because these are not around right now.”

Originally published as Toowoomba CBD-fringe luxury units by FKG Group approved by council