Proposal to use $10m Toowoomba CBD venue for homeless shelter revealed after Toowoomba Regional Council approval

The Toowoomba Regional Council has agreed to lease out one of the CBD’s premier venues for a pop-up shelter pilot program. But there’s a chance it might not go ahead at all.

Toowoomba Railways Goods Shed.

A proposed pilot program to potentially house dozens of people battling homelessness in Toowoomba’s $10 million Railway Goods Shed next year has been given the green light by the council.

The Toowoomba Housing and Homelessness Stakeholder Group, which is believed to be a collection of non-government organisations, applied to the TRC this week to lease the goods shed on Victoria St at no cost for every night in February 2021 to host the Pop-Up Bed Pilot Program.

While it is understood the plan is still in its infancy and might not go ahead at all, the councillors voted to allow the group use of the major CBD venue, which was reopened last year following a major renovation.

The space would feature 30 beds and spaces for food and other service vans to set up outside.

Environment and community chair Cr James O’Shea, who has been negotiating with the group, said it was one of a range of initiatives being considered to counter the growing homelessness “crisis” in Toowoomba.

“It’s becoming more and more prevalent across our community unfortunately,” he told his colleagues.

“The idea of it is to assist those people with their lives and connect them with the right support avenues to potentially transition out of homelessness, and provide a safe venue for those are in a crisis situation at the moment.”

Both Crs Rebecca Vonhoff and Tim McMahon sponsored the motion to offer a free lease, with the former saying more short-term support was needed.

“I do see this as just such a sad reflection of where we’ve got to as a community,” she said.

“The permanent fix is to address those low rental vacancy rates and high unemployment rates and oversupplied support services.”

Though she acknowledged rates of homelessness were rising, Cr Nancy Sommerfield took issue with the use of the Goods Shed.

“I just think there could be an opportunity to find a different venue,” she said.

“I believe this is flawed, I don’t believe this has been thought out enough (and) doing it for a month is just a set-up for disappointment.”

Cr Carol Taylor also had several issues with how the plan would practically work and whether it would lead to better outcomes.