Pittsworth aged care facility earns $173,000 infrastructure charges reduction by Toowoomba Regional Council

It was expanded to cater for more high-level aged care clients, but this regional facility was hit with a large bill for it. Now the council has waived the fees under a special policy.

The expansion of the Beauaraba aged care facility in Pittsworth.

A regional aged care facility won’t have to pay $173,000 in charges from the council as part of an extension to its premises, under a new policy to support small townships.

The Beauaraba Living residential care facility on Weales Street in Pittsworth was approved in 2019 to expand its site with a new high-care memory support house, comprising 26 rooms over nearly 1500 sqm.

The development came with an infrastructure charge of $173,165, but the applicant applied to have it waived under the Temporary Economic Development Incentives for District Townships policy.

The concept applies to developments within smaller townships like Pittsworth.

Council’s senior infrastructure planner Kate Rosier recommended the reduction be approved, arguing it met the criteria for the policy.

“This discretion has been used previously to afford a 100 per cent discount to development classified as essential services, located in the relevant areas,” the report said.

The motion was endorsed at council’s Tuesday committee meeting.