Toowoomba private school St Ursula’s approved for first step in major expansion by council

The Toowoomba Regional Council has approved a major private school for what will be the first step in a massive expansion.

The Toowoomba Regional Council has approved St Ursula's College for the first stage of its expansion plans along West St in Newtown.

A well-known Toowoomba private school has been approved for the first step in a major expansion of its campus.

The Toowoomba Regional Council this week granted St Ursula’s College preliminary approval for a variation request over land it had recently acquired along West, Rome and Warra Sts in Newtown.

The land includes the West Toowoomba Bowls Club house and its bowling greens, and two separate lots with residential houses, one of which is now demolished.

The approval is not for any specific expansions yet, but rather allows the council to treat subsequent proposals under the “community facilities” zoning like the rest of the school.

Attached plans to the variation request indicate St Ursula’s future intentions with the land, with the school to create new green spaces as well as new car parks for visitors and staff.

The bowls clubhouse will be turned into a uniform shop, which is currently where the new car park will be, while the bowling greens will be turned into new netball and tennis courts.

No residents returned feedback during the community consultation period, which was mandated due to the application being “impact-assessable”.

TRC senior planner Rodney O’Brien recommended the application be approved subject to conditions.

The school bought the West Toowoomba Bowls Club in August 2018.