Toowoomba Regional Council approves 22-lot subdivision despite backlash from residents

Residents living near a planned subdivision in a growth area of Toowoomba have pushed hard against its approval. But the council still gave it the green light.

APPROVED: A new subdivision off Gwynne Street in Drayton has been given the green light by the Toowoomba Regional Council, despite a backlash from surrounding residents.

Residents living near a newly-approved 22-lot subdivision in a growth area of Toowoomba say the development will increase traffic congestion and pose an unacceptable safety risk for pedestrians.

The Toowoomba Regional Council at last week’s special meeting gave the green light for a Brisbane developer to subdivide land off Gwynne Street in Drayton into 22 lots of between 500 and 800 sqm in size.

While most of the lots will host a single dwelling, applicant Darlington Green Pty Ltd has earmarked a number of allotments for potential dual-occupancy properties.

The development is slated for a highset piece of land on a highly-trafficked arterial road, something that caused alarm to a number of residents.

Objector Christine Lockrey, who was of at least seven neighbours who lodged a complaint against the proposal, said the lack of proper pedestrian infrastructure would not only force people to drive more but also become a hazard for people trying to cross Gwynne Street.

She said land at the corner of Gwynne and McPherson Streets was steep and already created visibility issues.

“They say they’re going to put a pathway down McPherson Street and Shepperd Street (two local adjoining roads), which will just arrive at Gwynne Street,” she said to councillors at last Wednesday’s meeting.

“That’s a very steep cutting and I doubt they’ll put a pedestrian pathway over the top.

“Even a person of my height would have trouble seeing oncoming traffic (on Gwynne Street) and yes it is a 60km/h zone but most people are still doing 80km/h until they reach the creek.

“The school is (not far), and it could be a major issue (for students) in a short space of time.”

This concern was backed up by Councillor Carol Taylor, who said she knew from experience how used Gwynne Street could be.

“One of my concerns is McPherson Street, it’s a blind corner and has poor visibility (for motorists and pedestrians),” she said.

Council officers said the TRC was limited in its options to condition pedestrian infrastructure, since Gwynne Street was a state-controlled road with a number of engineering obstacles.

Other issues from residents included the development’s supposed inconsistency with the semirural character of the surrounding area, potential impacts on stormwater drainage and a lack of new parkland or recreational areas.

Councillors voted in favour of the development, with Councillors Taylor and Bill Cahill the only ones voting against it.