Toowoomba council to vote on rezoning for mixed-use precinct in Cranley, residents ready to oppose

Five-storey units in the middle of suburbia? Residents are gearing up to fight the approval of an ambitious mixed-use development to cater for hundreds of residents. But the man responsible for the design has responded to concerns:

The developer behind a “wellness village” in Toowoomba’s northern suburbs is on a collision course with nearby residents who fear it will radically transform the entire neighbourhood.

Applicant Kenneth Pfitzner, under the name Lifestyle Greenwattle Pty Ltd, faces a massive fight to get his masterplanned residential, commercial and aged care precinct along Greenwattle Street in Cranley approved by the council.

More than 70 residents attended Saturday’s meeting on-site to unite in opposition of the development, citing a litany of concerns like visual amenities, privacy, crime, traffic, noise and liveability.

John Bryant speaks at a community meeting at Halsworth Street Park opposing proposed material change of use to create the Greenwattle Wellness Community development on Greenwattle St, Saturday, June 24, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Organisers have even launched a website, Facebook group and run letterbox drops to alert the community.

The project, which was proposed back in February 2022 and is currently open to community submissions, would turn the 2.8-hectare site into the “Greenwattle Wellness Village”.

Indicative artwork by Archr Design depicts a multifaceted space with two four-storey buildings of 63 units for specialist living, as well as townhouses, duplexes, an aged-care facility, gym, commercial spaces like cafes and even a childcare centre.

Two small dead-end streets, Halsworth Street and Liebke Crescent, would be linked with a new roundabout before joining Greenwattle Street on the eastern side.

PROPOSED: Concept architectural designs for the "Greenwattle Wellness Village", a medium-density mixed-use project based on 2.8 hectares along Greenwattle Street in Cranley.

The planning report by Property Projects Australia has envisioned the precinct would offer a diverse range of housing options, with a primary focus on older residents looking to age at home or live closer to family.

“The subject site is of a suitable scale and is appropriately located such that there is an opportunity to enhance Toowoomba’s northern suburbs, via the provision of a mixed-use community suitable to the needs of the elderly,” the report said.

But the major obstacle, which is the main contention among neighbours, is the land is zoned as low-density residential in the Toowoomba council’s planning scheme.

After an extensive consultation period between the developer and council, which featured a massive information request detailing a range of concerns, the variation request for the project has reached the public consultation phase ahead of an eventual special meeting of council.

Community organiser and Halsworth Street resident John Bryant said a shift away from detached housing would fundamentally change the neighbourhood’s character.

John Bryant (left) and Ian Basset after a community meeting at Halsworth Street Park opposing proposed material change of use to create the Greenwattle Wellness Community development on Greenwattle St, Saturday, June 24, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer

“No one is against the land being developed, because it’s 2.8 hectares of open land, it should be developed,” he said.

“(But) cramming all those people into such a small area, everyone is against that universally, because it is so out of character.

“On a personal note, we moved into that area because it was a dead-end street — it’s private and secluded.

“You stick two four-storey apartments next to it, we can kiss our privacy goodbye.

“The character of the neighbourhood will change, it will go from being a quiet, peaceful residential area to quite a bit busier, more noise and more traffic.”

Mr Bryant also took issue with the level of requirements for public notification, noting that virtually no one was aware of the project despite the developer meeting his obligations.

Two councillors, Nancy Sommerfield and Melissa Taylor, were also at the meeting to listen to community concerns.

The parcel of land on Greenwattle St that is subject to a proposed material change of use to create the Greenwattle Wellness Community, Saturday, June 24, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Architect responds to community concerns

Greenwattle Wellness Village architect David Watson said the project had a clear focus on addressing Toowoomba’s growing but ageing population.

The director and owner of Archr Design said the intent was to create a liveable space for people of “all walks of life”.

The intent of the project on the whole was to create a development that had wellness as the principle concept,” he said.

“It was designed so it could house and support all walks of life and really put an emphasis on liveability and ageing in place.

“Any developer could’ve taken this site and subdivided it into 40 detached housing blocks — our client endeavoured to try something a little different, and better for the community.

“We’re in a position of housing affordability issues that we’ve hardly seen before and this is to help with that.”

Wendy Chisholm signs the petition at a community meeting at Halsworth Street Park against proposed material change of use to create the Greenwattle Wellness Community development on Greenwattle St, Saturday, June 24, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Mr Watson also addressed concerns about traffic and visual impacts, saying the multistorey component would be in the centre of the site to reduce its effects on neighbours.

“The reason the taller buildings were in the middle was so they wouldn’t impact the existing homes,” he said.

“In the urban design component of it, especially in the traffic engineering side, there has been intent to differentiate it from standard council roads by changing the materiality of the road and the way it presents, like landscaping, roundabouts so to soften it.”

Mr Watson said the developer envisioned the area being walkable to benefit the age of eventual residents.

He also stressed just the rezoning request would be voted on by council, with all designs simply indicative of what could be built there through a subsequent application.