$65 million Glenvale project wins approval from council

LIVE COVERAGE: A development application for a $65 million project in Glenvale has been approved by Toowoomba Regional Council.

LIVE 10.30AM: A development application for a $65 million project in Glenvale has been approved by Toowoomba Regional Council.

It was approved overwhelming despite objections from Cr Bill Cahill and Cr Joe Ramia.

Both men expressed concerns that the rezoning approval would constrain council from imposing restrictions on the development.

But development services general manager Stewart Somers said any future applications would be required - and assessed by officers - before any building could take place.

LIVE 9.20AM: Toowoomba Regional Council has voted to defer a proposal that would have recommended a name for the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing.

Instead it will consult with the Lockyer Valley Regional Council and other interested parties.

Council officers had recommended a report be passed which would have endorsed a request to name the bypass Toowoomba Second Range Crossing Multuggerah Way.

The name would have paid tribute to an Aboriginal warrior.

But Cr Mike Williams submitted an alternate motion which deferred the proposal.

A number of councillors supported the name in principal but said more consultation was required.

Cr Carol Taylor said as Toowoomba Regional Council had two thirds - and Lockyer Valley Regional Council one third - of the population surrounding the bypass, the two councils needed to consult on the matter.

Council's proposal would have been a recommendation to the body in charge of naming the road - the Queensland Government.

8.45AM: It's decision time for the region's councillors with two big issues on the table at committee meetings in City Hall today.

Toowoomba Regional Council will vote on whether to approve a $65 million project in Glenvale that could bring hundreds of jobs to the city.

It will also consider a proposal to name the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing after Aboriginal warrior Multuggerah.

The issues will be debated in the Planning and Development Committee which starts at 9am.

Proponents of the Glenvale project say it will create more than 580 jobs during the construction phase and a further 630 once completed.

The proposal, which will include five precincts covering convenience, retail, health, childcare, fast food, a service station, showroom, hardware, indoor sports, a tavern, motel and residential, will be sited at the defunct Newtown Football Club.

This sketch depicts an attack by squatters on an Aboriginal camp, in retaliation for the Battle at One Tree Hill in 1843. Picture: National Unity Government

The proposal to name the bypass "Toowoomba Second Range Crossing Multuggerah Way" was put forward by the Heritage Advisory Committee.

The Aboriginal leader was involved in guerrilla warfare against European settlers expanding into the Lockyer Valley and the Darling Downs.

He set up road blocks by cutting down trees and led a battle against the settlers on Table Top Mtn.

Originally published as $65 million Glenvale project wins approval from council