Toowoomba council approves Torrington retirement village proposal for special meeting

Councillors have unanimously voted to approve a plan for a major retirement village, which was called in for a special meeting despite it being recommended for approval by officers.

A proposal for a retirement village off Hursley Road in Torrington by Torrington Project Pty Ltd.

Councillors have unanimously endorsed a plan for a massive retirement village, which was mysteriously called in for a special meeting despite no opposition from residents or council officers.

The 15-stage proposal, slated for a 28-hectare block of land off Hursley Road in Torrington, would create 312 dwellings in a “land lease” retirement facility arrangement, similar to resorts like SeaChange, Living Gems and Palm Lakes.

The project is being spearheaded by Sydney duo Richard Volpe and Kenny Phillips of Clifton Lifestyle, who bought the land off local developers Robin and Edward Hodge.

Communal facilities would include a function centre, wellness centre (with lounge and dining room), communal kitchen, cinema, arts and craft room, library, gym, pool, spa and sauna rooms, multipurpose rooms, bowling green, and lawn.

The parcel was one of several across Toowoomba included in a temporary local planning instrument by the council, which was passed in 2022 to encourage more housing in land zoned as emerging communities.

Four councillors called in the application back in December, essentially delaying the project’s approval by eight months.

No expressed opposition to the project by residents was detected by the council, and it is understood no reasons were given for why it needed to go before a special meeting.

Council’s senior planner Kasey McKillop recommended the development for approval, arguing it met either the acceptable or performance outcomes of the TRC’s planning scheme.

“As such, the application is subject to code assessment and did not require public notification,” Ms McKillop’s assessment report said.

“It is noted that council did not receive any informal submissions or community correspondence during the assessment of the application.”

While councillors Tim McMahon, Trevor Manteufel, Bill Cahill and Edwina Farquhar all asked questions around the density of the project and traffic impacts, these were addressed by Ms McKillop during the meeting.

Councillor Kerry Shine was not happy with the delays to approvals. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Meeting chair Kerry Shine took time after the vote to comment on the decision by councillors to call it in, pointing out there were costs involved in setting up a special meeting.

“In reality, there has been a seven or eight-month delay and there are costs involved in the presentation of these reports,” he said.

“In future, if we can get answers to these reasonable questions that councillors have asked in a different format, it might address the housing shortage that we have and cut out some expense as well.”