Toowoomba, Highfields residents angry at New England Highway bypass corridor proposal

Hundreds of residents in one of the region’s fastest-growing areas could be impacted by the proposed corridor of a major highway bypass.

Sophie Oliver and her husband Nathan dream of raising their children at their lifestyle block in Meringandan — but that appears to be dashed.

They are two of hundreds of residents living in one of the Toowoomba region’s fastest-growing areas who could be impacted by the proposed corridor of a massive highway bypass.

Landholders in and around Highfields, Kleinton and Meringandan have started venting their anger at the potential alignment of the New England Highway bypass around Toowoomba, which was only released to the public last week.

Meringandan resident Sophie Oliver is concerned about how close the Toowoomba North South Transport Corridor will come to her house and the loss of koala habitat, Monday, July 17, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer

The massive future-proofing infrastructure project, officially called the Toowoomba North South Transport Corridor, is planned to take motorists from the New England Highway at Geham and through Meringandan, Gowrie Junction, Charlton, Wellcamp and Westbrook before rejoining the existing highway in the Cambooya area.

It is not set to be built for decades and has been in the works with the Department of Transport and Main Roads for years, but only key stakeholders groups were allowed to see it prior to this month — much to the chagrin of politicians like mayor Paul Antonio and Toowoomba North MP Trevor Watts.

The proposed corridor for the Toowoomba North South Transport Corridor by the Department of Transport and Main Roads.

In the few days that public consultation has been available, the TMR feedback site has been flooded with nearly 250 responses, including nearly 150 in the wider Highfields area.

Chief among residents’ concerns in the northern sections are the displacement of families, loss of visual and noise amenities, impacts on property prices and its effects on koala habitat around Meringandan.

“This is utter craziness! Please don’t ruin our beautiful Highfields community,” one resident wrote.

Ms Oliver, whose property on Leahy Road is directly impacted by the proposed bypass, said she and her neighbours have been also disappointed by the consultation process.

“We’re in contact with our neighbours and that’s how we found out about this — none of us were contacted by TMR,” she said.

A koala spotted on Sophie Oliver's property in Meringandan. She says the area is native habitat for koalas.

“The road, because some of us have received letters, is running right across the top of a house.

“We have all worked so hard to get these blocks, we’ve invested so much — there are families who have had to live in sheds because they sold their houses and they’re looking to build here.

Meringandan resident Sophie Oliver is concerned about how close the bypass will come to her house and the potential loss of koala habitat. Picture: Kevin Farmer

“To find out that is possibly not a reality, and to find it out on Facebook, is just appalling.

“Multiple residents just along this one street have had sleepless nights over this.”

Ms Oliver said the area was rich in native fauna and flora, which she argued was threatened by the bypass.

Highfields resident Amy Clark, who launched the No Way No Highway Facebook page last week, said her property on Federation Drive would have a clear view of the proposed connector to the existing highway south of Highfields.

Amy Clark with husband Sam and their three children.

She said the current proposal was unacceptable on a number of fronts and asked TMR to reconsider the corridor’s direction.

“There is not one person who will not be impacted by this — people are appalled that this bypass could be right next to them,” Ms Clark said.

“My principle concern is the liveability impacts — we don’t have a business, we live in the region because we love the country feel, the agriculture, the cows grazing across the valley.

“There’s no way I’ll be able to stay if there’s a highway right next to me.”

Mr Watts said while it was essential that a bypass corridor was secured, he urged TMR to commit to proper consultation and avoid koala habitat.

“Sooner or later, we’ll have to put a road somewhere, but if we’re going to do that, we could have the broadest consultation with people who know how to manage it,” he said.

“Property rights are fundamental rights, and if the government needs to purchase it, they need to do it in a transparent and fair way.”

Mr Antonio said the project was in its “early days”, urging residents to get involved in the process.

“The best advice I can give is for residents to be as involved as possible in consultation,” he said.

The department was contacted for comment but did not respond in time for deadline.