Toowoomba mayor Geoff McDonald wants more information on concept for $250m culture, business precinct in CBD

Toowoomba mayor Geoff McDonald says he wants more details on a $250m conceptual proposal for a major CBD precinct, calling on its proponents to meet with council.

Toowoomba mayor Geoff McDonald says he is interested in learning more about a concept for a $250m arts, culture and business precinct in the CBD — but has urged its proponents to follow the proper process first.

Mr McDonald and other councillors were briefed this week on the massive theoretical project, proposed for about 1.3ha of land fronting Annand and Neil streets near the centre of Toowoomba, which is currently used for carparking.

The future-thinking precinct, which some readers of The Chronicle declared would “never happen”, includes a 12-storey complex with 80 new units, an 1800-person conference centre, 300 underground car parks, a new hotel, restaurants, bars and cafes, urban parkland and 4000sq m of modern office space.

Concept art for the proposed $250m arts, culture, business and conferencing precinct in Toowoomba CBD. Courtesy of Aspect Architects and Project Managers.

Its proponents include the Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce’s CBD Revitalisation Advisory Committee and real estate agent Peter Marks, with Aspect Architects creating a flyover video showcasing its size and scale.

The delivery of the project would require the council to agree to sell or lease its land for private investment, along with the creation of detailed designs.

Toowoomba mayor Geoff McDonald.

Mr McDonald said he would reserve judgment on the project’s merits for now, urging the chamber to arrange a deputation with councillors at a future meeting.

“Council is always open to looking ideas that expand the CBD,” he said.

“If that is a project that’s worthy to be looked at, we will look at it, they might seek a deputation and they might need to lodge an application.

“The correct process would be for them to seek a deputation to showcase their idea and vision, which would include the financials of the whole project.”

Mr McDonald said the council had shown it was willing to take chances on private investment using public land, pointing to its sale of a car park along Station St to the Brisbane Housing Company to create social housing.

“We’ve shown in the past we can, as with Brisbane Housing Company, make land available,” he said.

“This is something that local governments do, but the correct process would be for the group to seek a deputation, talk to our planning department.

“I’m certainly not opposed to it, but there’s a fair bit to go before I could have an opinion on it.”

Chamber chief executive Todd Rohl said he had written to the council with delivery options to reach the first phase.

“We’ve provided them with three options – they could fund the detailed design for the site themselves, or they could work with us to do a grant application to the federal government for up to $500,000 for stage one, and if you’re successful they put money into construction,” he said.

“The third option is they don’t help us with the grant but provide a letter of support.”