Toowoomba Regional Council approves narrow lots on Campbell Street, East Toowoomba

Three narrow lots with widths of just 10.5m have been approved for one of Toowoomba’s most famous streets, in a decision that has split the councillors during a special meeting.

The Toowoomba Regional Council has approved the subdivision of narrow lots on Campbell Street in East Toowoomba at a special meeting.

A proposal to create three narrow lots on arguably Toowoomba’s premier street has split the council, with one councillor saying it would hurt the surrounding neighbourhood.

The Toowoomba Regional Council voted 6-4 in favour of applicant Russel John Sherman’s plan for a reconfiguration of two lots on Campbell Street in East Toowoomba, not far from the Hume Street intersection, into three 508 sqm lots with widths of 10.058m.

The two lots currently host a single dwelling, which has been there since World War II but is not covered by a neighbourhood character overlay.

The new lots are larger than the minimum 450 sqm required for land in neighbourhood character areas and are longer than the minimum width of 10m.

But council planner Tamara Katai argued they technically didn’t meet the planning scheme requirements, since the length of the lots (50.554m) pushed them outside the council’s length-width ratio limit by 26cm.

95 Campbell Street in East Toowoomba sold through Snow Real Estate in 2018 for $700,000.

However, she said this distance was negligible, while all other issues around stormwater could be resolved with conditions attached to the approval.

Because the application was code-assessable and not impact-assessable, community consultation was not required.

Since the lots have only single frontage, council architects and planners said vehicle storage of houses built on them would need to be at the front.

Heritage architect Peter Freeman told councillors he had issues with the proposal, saying creative building designs would be needed to ensure the house remained the main feature from the street and not a garage.

“As an individual officer I have expressed concerns — when you bring down the width, it limits your opportunities for where you can place a garage,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of the applicant, town planner James Juhasz said sympathetic architectural designs could be created to fit the lots, suggesting the use of car lifts to house two cars within the width of a single lockup garage.

Councillor Kerry Shine spoke passionately against the proposal, arguing it was interfering with the street’s heritage.

“This street, in my opinion, is the prettiest in the city and a lot of people come to Toowoomba to drive up and down Campbell Street,” he said.

“It’s because of the old houses here — I just can’t understand why we would risk interfering with that.

“I think it will shock people that this will be allowed and they’ll be very worried about what the future will hold with similar lots on Campbell Street.

“I can’t believe we’re messing with one of the most precious streets in Toowoomba.”

Councillors Rebecca Vonhoff, Carol Taylor and Megan O’Hara Sullivan also voted against it.

In favour of the development, Councillor Bill Cahill said he believed the development could lead to good planning outcomes.

“I’m comfortable the operational works will be managed correctly and the driveway works the same,” he said.

“Given the setbacks and the options describe to setback houses further than required. the appearance from the street would be sympathetic to the area.

“Herein lies a classic example of allowing tasteful living choice within an existing area, with acceptable distances of services that might mean people don’t need to jump in a car.

Mayor Paul Antonio, Deputy Mayor Geoff McDonald and Councillors Nancy Sommerfield, James O’Shea and Tim McMahon also voted for it.

Councillor Melissa Taylor was absent.