Toowoomba North-South Transport Corridor proposal discontinued after 4000 responses from community

Toowoomba’s mayor says the scrapping of the much-hated North-South transport corridor should signal the start of discussions for future infrastructure.

Toowoomba mayor Geoff McDonald has called on the state government to start now on planning new transport alternatives to the now-scrapped North-South road corridor proposal.

The Department of Transport and Main Roads will now consult with the council about future infrastructure options, after minister Mark Bailey this weekend revealed the government wouldn’t proceed with its much-maligned project.

The project, which led to a backlash from thousands of residents, was to connect the New England Highway at either ends of the city and run along the western corridor.

TRC Mayor, Geoff McDonald.

Mr McDonald said the was still a “critical need” for more transport options in areas like Highfields, Charlton and Westbrook.

“The sheer volume of community interest and concern regarding the alignment of the Toowoomba North-South Transport Corridor shows that a re-think of the corridor was needed and that’s the process the state says it will now undertake,” he said.

“Council agrees that there is a growing need for an additional north-south road for the Toowoomba region and remains committed to advocating for minimal disruption to residents, protection of environment and areas of cultural significance and mitigating impacts on the local road network while achieving the best possible outcome for the region.

“With the amount of development and growth happening in and around Toowoomba, including the new hospital, there is a critical need for an alternative transport solution north-south through greater Toowoomba and it is critical the state government invests in this much-needed planning now.”

Mr McDonald also urged TMR to continue ongoing consultation with the community about future plan.

It comes after the department was heavily criticised for the initial length and bredth of the public feedback period.

Sophie Oliver; Amy Clark; Toowoomba North-South transport corridor.

How small group helped community defeat transport corridor

The now-scrapped controversial Toowoomba North-South transport corridor wasn’t just another piece of road infrastructure to Amy Clark.

She says if the project had been allowed to go ahead, hundreds of people would’ve lost their lives.

Highfields resident Amy Clark.

“I’ve never seen grown men cry in front of me like that before,” the Highfields resident said, remarking on home visits she would pay to affected residents.

“This was not just a highway, this was going to destroy people’s lives.

“There were literal lives on the line and if we could stop this to potentially save someone losing their life, that would be worth it.”

Ms Clark, her group of two-dozen fellow organisers and thousands of residents across Toowoomba are celebrating after the state government pulled the planned corridor, which could led to land resumption impacting more than 230 homes.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey revealed his department would not pursue the project in its current form, which was to connect the New England Highway at either ends of the city and run along the western corridor.

The result comes following a “people power” movement involving potentially tens of thousands of residents, featuring massive community forums, letterbox drops, social media engagement, media interviews and lobbying not just both local MPs but the minister himself.

Ms Clark said the entire process was designed to take the community’s angst and use it to heap pressure on the levers of power to force them on the issue.

“(I) just wanted to talk to people who could help the situation — we just started a whole heap of little groups, initially there was about 20 and then the numbers grew,” she said.

“The idea was to keep things top of mind, and whenever something happened, we’d jump on it straight away.

“We needed to make them feel like they had to reply — I can just imagine how many phone calls and emails were sent.”

Dissent from residents was based around the corridor’s environmental, noise, traffic, cultural and amenity impacts, as well as the resumption of land spanning hundreds of properties including Highfields, Kleinton, Westbrook, Charlton and Wellcamp.

Meringandan resident Sophie Oliver. Picture: Kevin Farmer

The Department of Main Roads was also heavily criticised for its consultation process, which was initially just a month long before being extended to three following public pressure.

Ms Clark said organisers even made phone calls, home visits and arranged mental health morning teas for people impacted by the project.

Fellow organiser Sophie Oliver, whose Meringandan property would’ve been resumed if the corridor had been approved, said the grassroots political action on display was “extraordinary” to witness.

“The fact that 4000 people would take time to make a submission and there were 10,000 signatures, it would be safe to say there were tens of thousands objecting to this,” she said.

“If I have to look at a positives, obviously winning the battle is one, but the other is how great of a community we have, and also how many people are willing to stand up for where they live.

“There are people who have been in the media like Amy and myself, but also others behind the scenes who will never get a lot of public thanks.”

Ms Clark compared the battle to a classic of Australian cinema.

“I’m very proud – we’re really the little people, and yet we were able to overturn something like this — it’s like a modern-day The Castle story,” she said.

LNP, Greens welcome scrapping of controversial corridor

Toowoomba North MP welcomed the decision to scrap the proposed Toowoomba North South Transport Corridor. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Both LNP and Greens politicians have welcomed the state government’s decision to ditch its proposed Toowoomba transport corridor following serious community backlash.

Toowoomba North MP Trevor Watts and Queensland Senator Larissa Waters both took aim at the Queensland government’s handling of the project, which saw more than 10,000 submissions, responses and signatures from residents opposing it.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey said the department would now work with the Toowoomba Regional Council to look at alternatives based on the existing road infrastructure.

“We are a government that listens to our community and we are extremely grateful to everyone that has provided us with feedback, detailed submissions or even just shared their story with us,” he said.

“On critical, large projects such as the North South transport corridor, it’s important that the community has a say, so that we can change and pivot to reflect the needs of the community.”

Just one section of the original proposal will proceed, with respondents supportive of a corridor protection for a bypass of the industrial area in Charlton.

Mr Watts welcomed the decision to scrap the proposed route and said it was time to take a second look at a Boundary Road – Highfields connection.

“There was certainly some indication that the State Government was thinking very carefully about the route, and I think they are trying to work out some ways to save some money,” he said.

“There was poor planning, poor community consultation, and poor budget had the government to cause a lot of anxiety in the community, it has upset a lot of people for no good reason and now only to find that because Mark Bailey has blown the budget in the south East Queensland, this route is off the agenda.”

For several years Mr Watts has pushed for an alternative route connecting Boundary Street in Toowoomba with the southwestern side of Highfields.

He said that infrastructure upgrades were needed as the region looks towards a growing population in the years to come.

“There is no doubt that we will need an alternative route, to the west of the city that will allow traffic to flow north to south,” he said.

“We should be tidying up some of our existing infrastructure, making use of what is already there and I think we will be capable of dealing with the extra traffic into the foreseeable future

“We should be listening to the people, investing in the future and making sure we get in the right location.”

Discussing the state government's proposed North-South transport corridor through the Toowoomba region are Highfields resident and activist Amy Clark (left, with daughter Bonnie) and Queensland Greens Senator Larissa Waters.

Senator Waters called the result a “joyous win” for residents in Toowoomba.

“In a cost of living and climate crisis, the Queensland government should not be wasting billions of taxpayer dollars on an unwanted mega road that would have destroyed so many homes and livelihoods, sacred sites, and important koala habitat,” she said.

“I’m so proud of the community leaders who led this campaign, and so happy to have taken the time to hear their concerns directly, visited part of the site at risk, and hosted a public meeting about it.

“The proposed mega highway and the mismanagement of the consultation caused the community so much anguish and anxiety.”

LNP Condamine MP Pat Weir called the entire process a “debacle”.

I note this announcement states TMR will work with Toowoomba Regional Council to identify an alternate route,” he said.

“I would hope there will be a much more comprehensive consultation process this time to ensure the debacle we have just had is not repeated.”

Earlier: Government scraps North-South Transport corridor

A massive and controversial transport corridor proposed for Toowoomba has been scrapped by the Queensland Government following a ferocious backlash from residents and grassroots movement.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey revealed on Monday his department would not pursue the project in its current form, which was to connect the New England Highway at either ends of the city and run along the western corridor.

The proposal was met with more than 4000 submissions and responses from residents, with the vast majority opposing it.

Dissent was based around the corridor’s environmental, noise, traffic, cultural and amenity impacts, as well as the resumption of land spanning hundreds of properties including Highfields and Kleinton.

The Department of Main Roads was also heavily criticised for its consultation process, which was initially just a month long before being extended to three following public pressure.

Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey speaks to the media at Queensland parliament, Saturday, November 4, 2023 – Picture: Richard Walker

Mr Bailey said the department would now work with the Toowoomba Regional Council to look at alternatives based on the existing road infrastructure.

“We are a government that listens to our community and we are extremely grateful to everyone that has provided us with feedback, detailed submissions or even just shared their story with us,” he said.

“On critical, large projects such as the North South transport corridor, it’s important that the community has a say, so that we can change and pivot to reflect the needs of the community.

“Now that consultation has closed, TMR will work with Toowoomba Regional Council to identify alternate transport solutions that maximise the use of existing road infrastructure.

“Toowoomba is growing and that is a great thing for the community because it means jobs and prosperity.”

One section that will proceed is a corridor protection for a bypass of the industrial area in Charlton.

A map of the proposed Toowoomba North South Transport Corridor from the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads.

Community advocate and opponent to the project Amy Clark said she was “relieved” to see the government change its mind.

“I’m really happy, it’s a great result,” she said.

“It’s hard to be jubilant, it’s a little surreal but I’m really happy that it’s been looked at, we’ve been heard and somebody has realised.

“It was going to change hundreds of lives.

“They had 4000 submissions, surely that has to be a record.

“It shows what people power can do (and) when you speak up and make noise for what you think is wrong, there can be some great results.”

Ms Clark said she hoped both Labor and the LNP understood the Toowoomba community wanted the right infrastructure projects.

“There will be some naysayers saying we’re never going to get roads now, but it just means the community’s needs and wants have been heard,” she said.

“(New roads) are inevitable, but I think it has to make logical sense.

“I do think we’re looking at the barrel of asking questions to our local MPs and councillors that might be difficult, because we are growing, but we don’t want to lose that sense of lifestyle.”