Toowoomba Mayor Paul Antonio open to new CBD incentives amid prospectus launch

The Toowoomba Regional Council launched its prospectus for the CBD and Railway Parklands, with the hope of building on the $850 million already invested into the city centre since 2010.

The launch of Toowoomba Regional Councils Invest Toowoomba CBD prospectus. TRC Mayor Paul Antonio

Mayor Paul Antonio hasn’t ruled out floating extra incentives to encourage more investment into the Toowoomba CBD.

Cr Antonio made the comments after launching the Toowoomba CBD and Railway Parklands prospectus to the public, which both the council and key stakeholder groups hope will build on the $850 million already invested into the city centre over the past decade.

The document, described by the mayor as partially an important “branding exercise”, collects the key economic and lifestyle achievements and opportunities by the city for prospective investors.

Cr Antonio said the TRC would continue to focus on inner-city living and fixing ongoing issues like parking and shopfront vacancy.

The launch of Toowoomba Regional Councils Invest Toowoomba CBD prospectus. Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce CEO Todd Rohl, TSBE CEO Ali Davenport, TRC Mayor Paul Antonio

“I have some ideas around further incentives, particularly for projects we so desperately need like parking but I have not brought that to council,” he said.

“That’s just a personal view – if we were able to get a multipurpose building up that had parking, so people could come and shop, that would be great.

“Incentives are good, but you’ve also got to have the right environment for people to invest.”

The prospectus launch was accompanied by video profiles featuring key industry leaders and small business owners, including Heritage Bank CEO Peter Lock and Met Hotel owners Kosta and Jasmine Theodosis.

Cr Antonio said working with upper levels of government would be essential to provide for future infrastructure needs.

“We’ll be going cap in hand to the state and federal government for support,” he said.

The prospectus launch was welcomed by both Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise CEO Ali Davenport, as well as Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce CEO Todd Rohl.

It comes just a month after Trade and Investment Queensland launched its own prospectus for Toowoomba.

For more information, head to www.tr.qld.gov.au/community-business/invest.

Originally published as Toowoomba Mayor Paul Antonio open to new CBD incentives amid prospectus launch