21 developments and projects across the Toowoomba region we’re waiting for this year
Toowoomba is growing at a breathtaking rate, and that is partially thanks to the deluge of major projects and developments popping up. Here are 21 we’re hoping to see come to fruition in 2021.
Development
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It’s no secret Toowoomba is experiencing incredible economic growth in recent years, and this has manifested itself partially in a number of developments that will employ residents and support businesses.
While plenty of major projects were completed last year, including the Oaks Hotel and the Toowoomba Regional Council’s Charlton depot, there are several that are still either in the pipeline, have started construction or are nearly finished.
The Chronicle has collected 21 developments the region is waiting on this year.
Note: Some projects have been discussed previously but are not likely to be delivered over the next 12 months.
1. MOBIL SERVICE STATION, HARLAXTON (RUTHVEN ST)
Developer Rob Weymouth was approved by the council for this $5 million service station on Ruthven St in Harlaxton back in March last year.
Mr Weymouth said he was taking advantage of a dearth in service stations heading southbound into Toowoomba from Highfields.
“The reason it’s a good site is about 24,000 cars go past that site every day, (and) there’s nothing on the left from Highfields (to Toowoomba),” he said.
“It’s going to pick up a lot of the trade.
“The fuel operators have been looking at a site for a while, (so) I bought the three blocks.”
The servo is expected to be completed this year.
2. CARINITY AGED CARE, HIGHFIELDS
Work on the Carinity aged care community on Highfields Rd, adjacent to the existing Brownesholme retirement village, is expected to be completed by next month.
The new 96-bed facility is part of stage one of a $67 million expansion of the seniors’ community.
Lead contractor Paynters currently has 70 local subcontractors working at the Highfields site.
3. PACIFIC FUELS SERVICE STATION, HARLAXTON (NORTH ST)
The Toowoomba Regional Council recently approved a plan by Pacific Fuels for light and heavy vehicle service station on North St in Harlaxton.
Documents show the first stage of the servo will include eight fuel bowsers and canopy for smaller vehicles, and two diesel fuel bowers and canopy for heavy vehicles.
The initial stage will make the site an unmanned service station, with the second stage to include a fuel shop.
4. CHILDCARE CENTRE, WESTBROOK
The centre catering for up to 140 pupils and employing more than 20 people was approved by the Toowoomba Regional Council in September last year.
Applicant Knox Investing Pty Ltd can now move ahead with the plan to build the centre on Main St in Westbrook, a growing community just outside Toowoomba.
According to the report by Precinct Urban Planning, the building would have a total floor space of more than 820 sqm.
5. HIGHFIELDS LIBRARY, HIGHFIELDS
A major project for the Toowoomba Regional Council in 2021, the new $11 million Highfields Library is currently under construction.
The new facility will replace the existing temporary library, which supports around 52,600 visitors each year.
It will be located on the corner of Balmoral St, north of O’Brien Rd in the Highfields Cultural Precinct.
6. RESIDENTIAL UNITS, TOOWOOMBA CBD
Toowoomba developer Barry Bernoth has two major residential projects currently in the works for the CBD, with the latest proposed back in September.
The five-storey apartment block on Mylne St would include eight three-bedroom units, five two-bedroom units, a one-bedroom apartment and a communal roof deck and garden.
Mr Bernoth said at the time getting more people living in the CBD would improve business activity.
“We are looking forward to working with the council to make it a building that is desirable for people to live near the Toowoomba CBD,” he said.
This fast food precinct, slated over several blocks along Anzac Ave in Harristown, was approved by the council in January last year.
The project’s layout included five food and drink tenancies, with access to the site from both Anzac Ave and local street Devine St.
Engineering estimates predicted that 250 vehicles an hour would enter and exit the site during peak periods, most of which going through Devine St.
8. ASTERION CANNABIS FACILITY, WELLCAMP
Projected to be worth $500 million and bring in more than 1000 jobs, the Asterion Australia medical cannabis project will be based on more than 45 hectares of land near the Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport.
The council approved the facility in November 2019, and Asterion signed an agreement with construction giant BESIX Watpac late last year to build the first stage of the development.
The project is expected to inject more than a $1 billion into the Toowoomba and Australian economy.
9. COMMERCIAL BUILDING, TOOWOOMBA CBD
This three-storey office block, currently under construction, will sit where the old Amigo’s Mexican restaurant was before it burned down more than three years ago.
The massive project, which would fix one of the CBD’s worst eyesores, is partially the brainchild of solicitor Tom Sullivan.
The building is expected to be completed by April.
10. MEDIBIS CANNABIS FACILITY, WELLCAMP
A homegrown medical cannabis project, Medibis is hoping to have it shovel-ready by the end of next month.
In a crucial step forward, the company received its cultivation licence from the Federal Office of Drug Control back in November.
The licence is a key component of plans to build a large scale, state-of-the-art medicinal cannabis facility near Toowoomba that is capable of producing 80-100 tonnes of product annually.
The growth area of Cambooya was approved for a new Foodworks supermarket on Eton St back in October by the council.
Applicant A and D Superfund would knock down the current Cambooya Store and News and build a new Foodworks shop on the same site.
According to the assessment report by Toowoomba Regional Council acting senior planner Peter Swan, the new supermarket would be 500 sqm, include 12 parking bays and feature landscaping along the northern boundary, the site frontage and around the perimeter.
12. GARDEN CITY MOSQUE, HARRISTOWN
It’s been more than five years since two arson attacks destroyed the place of worship for the city’s Muslim population, and now the new-look Toowoomba Mosque is finally taking shape on West St in Harristown.
The new building will be more eco-friendly, featuring solar panels to run the electricity as well as a water tank.
Much of the inside still needs to be completed, and the organisation has not revealed when it will be finished.
13. MEDICAL AND SHOPPING CENTRE, CAMBOOYA
This long-awaited shopping complex on Eton St in Cambooya, which will include a new medical centre and food outlet, was approved by the Toowoomba Regional Council in early 2019.
The development will be broken into two stages, with the first section being the existing medical centre and a car park, followed by remaining new tenancies in the second part.
The project received a boost late last year, with the council also reducing the infrastructure charges bill in line with its incentives policy for developments in smaller communities.
14. ROWES REDEVELOPMENT, TOOWOOMBA CBD
Northbuild has been busy completing the $11 million redevelopment of the Rowes precinct, which will activate a previously-unused part of the Toowoomba CBD.
The new project will include a small coffee shop and multiple office tenancies, all based around a semipublic space designed to draw people in.
Rowes general manager Paul McMahon said while the offices would suit modern needs, the design retained as much of the old brickwork and even included materials from other famous Toowoomba buildings, like the Foundry.
The redevelopment is expected to be completed by April.
Developer Edward Hodge has been busy completing this new service station and drive-through eatery on the corner of Alderley and Greenwattle Sts in Glenvale.
The head contractor is Niclin Constructions, who completed the initial steelworks late last year.
Mr Hodge told The Chronicle there was a need for more service stations in the western corridor.
16. HIGHGROVE BATHROOMS, TOOWOOMBA CBD
Highgrove Bathrooms, which has more than 40 locations across Australia, is setting up shop on a vacant block of land on James St in Toowoomba City.
The nearly 2000 sqm building, which will include the Highgroves showroom and two other tenants, is currently under construction.
Hipwood Development and Construction serving as the contractor on the project.
The new showroom is expected to be opened as early as April.
The $192 million Charlton Sports Precinct master plan was approved by Toowoomba Regional Council for a 43.87ha site west of the Toowoomba in 2015.
The final master plan recognised the viability and growth of the Toowoomba region would be reinforced by the provision of a suite of regional sporting facilities and community places.
Included in the plans were rugby ovals, AFL and cricket ovals, soccer pitches, netball courts, amenities, a gym, a clubhouse, and more.
There has yet to be any further progress on it from the council’s end, and the precinct could clash with State Government plans to build a second road between Highfields and Toowoomba to cater for future growth.
18. ENTERTAINMENT PRECINCT, WELLCAMP
Wagner Corporation has pushed ahead with an incredible $175 million project that incorporates motorsport, driver-training and a 40,000 person performing arts venue.
The plan was boosted by the State Government in October, which pledged $40 million towards it.
The project has already received endorsement from local and international motorsport bodies, while Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the plan had the potential to revolutionise the economy of Toowoomba and the Darling Downs.
19. INLAND RAIL, WESTERN TOOWOOMBA
Easily one of the most talked-about projects on this list, there is still no clear time frame for when the $11 billion Inland Rail is going to run through the Toowoomba region.
A senate inquiry began last week into the Australian Rail Track Corporation’s handling of the project through Queensland, with huge concerns raised by the community over how it will cross the Condamine flood-plain.
The Port of Brisbane has also highlighted how the current plan doesn’t take trains all the way to the port, but instead stop at Acacia Ridge.
Once completed, the 1700km rail line will connect Brisbane to Melbourne, running through inland Australia.
A major aspect of the project will be digging a tunnel through the Toowoomba range.
20. TOOWOOMBA PREMIUM MILK FACTORY, WELLCAMP
The $50 million plan for a milk product and baby formula factory right next to Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport has captured the attention of residents for several years.
First floated more than five years ago and approved by the council in 2016, The Chronicle was told construction was expected to start early this year.
The TRC granted an extension to the applicant’s approvals late last year.
Speaking in 2018, TPM’s executive chairman Steve Laracy said the facility would use the latest technology as part of business plan that will sell directly to Asian markets.
21. RESIDENTIAL TOWER, TOOWOOMBA CBD
Toowoomba developer Barry Bernoth has planned an 11-storey residential and parking tower to front onto the Bell St mall.
The tower would feature 307 car parks (two-thirds of which were for the public), 30 apartments ranging from one to four bedrooms as well as a shop and food outlet on the ground floor.
Mr Bernoth said he wanted to see the CBD flourish, identifying a lack of inner-city living and parking as two roadblocks.
The council has yet to approve the development application.
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