Application to demolish termite-riddled character home in tree-lined North Toowoomba street

A damaged federation-era character home in North Toowoomba could be demolished, after the owner lodged an application with Toowoomba Regional Council.

The owner of a federation-era Queenslander in Hume St, North Toowoomba, has applied to Toowoomba Regional Council to demolish the home.

The application to demolish the “neighbourhood character dwelling” at 68 Hume St, North Toowoomba is impact assessable, meaning neighbours and the community will get to have their say on the application when it goes out to public notification.

The home at 68 Hume St, North Toowoomba.

According to a structural report by Ipswich Consulting Engineers, extensive termite damage means the building is “not considered structurally adequate and therefore … unsafe to occupy”.

“A full assessment of the costs of repair will need to be carried out by a builder but in the opinion of the writer the repair work is considered well beyond that of normal maintenance to a building of this age and type,” the report said.

The report said there was “extensive termite damage” to the internal VJ walls and ceiling lining in all rooms, with some VJ boards “completely hollowed out”.

The report also found some floorboards were in a similar state.

A pest inspection by Keiran Mortimer Pest Control found the house contained active, live termites and there was a termite nest under the home.

The council is assessing the application.