Developer concerned at safety risk with bypass design

A SECOND property developer is concerned the changed Second Range Crossing design could cost him millions.

A SECOND property developer is concerned the changed Second Range Crossing design could cost him millions.

But more than the possible $1.8 million loss is the concerns Raveway developer Mike Battle has for the safety of Mt Kynoch residents exiting the new bypass.

Mr Battle said he was shocked the winning design included a cutting through the mountain, rather than the proposed tunnel.

He is concerned about the increased traffic that will flow through the Hermitage Rd and Weale St.

"The main problem is the number of people trying to exit the highway at Mt Kynoch," he said.

"That's precisely where the new cutting is going through and at the moment there is no prospect for a legal exit."

Mr Battle owns a large parcel of land for which the Toowoomba Regional Council gave development approval to subdivide into 44 lots.

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But he now faces a wait for development to proceed in line with the final Second Range Crossing design.

He is confident negotiations with bypass developers will reimburse him for the land which was valued at in excess of $1.8m.

"We do have the development approval for it but that was issued before the cutting decision was made.

"We are confident (winning builder Nexus) will be fair about it and pay us what the land is worth which is somewhere around the $1.8m mark.

Mr Battle said the ideal solution was to delay development until final bypass plans were released.

"The only safe solution is the development in that area is stopped until such time as the new range crossing is clearer and being built," he said.

The Chronicle previously reported on developer Leon Carlisle who bought land before the final design was announced.

Mr Carlisle said his land was de-valued as a result of the cutting design and was waiting to negotiate with the State Government for fair compensation as a result of the design.

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Toowoomba Mayor Paul Antonio flagged possible land acquisition in order to accommodate the Nexus design.

"There are a lot of variables that needed to be determined as yet," he said.

"When council has clarity on what extra land is needed then it will decide on the most appropriate zoning for those affected areas.

"Council will endeavour to keep the zoning consistent along the length of the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing."

Originally published as Developer concerned at safety risk with bypass design