Developer submits new plan for 96-lot subdivision on Cawdor Road in Highfields, Toowoomba council fires back at comments

A developer has more than halved the density of a proposed subdivision slated for a growing community north of Toowoomba. At the same time, the council has fired back after it was accused of not being accommodating.

The Toowoomba Regional Council has fired back at a Brisbane developer over a scrapped 250-lot subdivision in Highfields.

Bill Lambert, who earlier this month withdrew an application for a 255-lot housing estate on Cawdor Road, this week lodged a new plan featuring just 96 lots.

While the land is zoned as “lifestyle residential” by the council, it has also been flagged as a future greenfields site.

“The proposal looks to compliment the development pattern prominent with the north, south, east, and west of the subject site by providing a variety of lots ranging from 2250 sqm to 1.325 hectares,” the planning report said.

“The proposed subdivision looks to add additional park to the southeastern corner connecting the existing park (Stella Park) and provide a large open space for residents of the subject lot.”

Mr Lambert’s real estate agent Julian Dickson said the council never agreed to a pre-lodgement meeting to facilitate the higher-density project, forcing them to review the concept.

But planning and development portfolio leader councillor Bill Cahill on Thursday said the comments were “disappointing”, arguing the council had been in constant contact with the applicant.

“Following the initial discussions with the consultants, council provided the developer with eight pages of pre-lodgement notes in May 2022,” he said in a statement.

“This was in response to a proposal for a residential development at a density which appeared consistent with the low-density residential zoning and park residential precinct designation of the subject land.

“The developer subsequently lodged a development application which was more than double the density of development suggested through the pre-lodgement discussions, which was inconsistent with the prior pre-lodgement advice.

“As the application required further work, council’s senior planner held further discussions with the developer’s consultants expressing concerns in relation to the inconsistency of the proposal with council’s planning scheme.”

Mr Lambert and Mr Dickson have been contacted for comment.

A massive parcel of land off Cawdor Road in Highfields was slated for a major subdivision before it was withdrawn by the developer. Photo taken by Properties Ruhle Real Estate.

EARLIER: DEVELOPER PULLS PLAN FOR 250-LOT SUBDIVISION

A Brisbane developer appears to have scrapped plans for a massive subdivision in a growing community north of Toowoomba after failing to secure a meeting with council.

Odd Lots (Highfields) Pty Ltd, whose director is Bill Lambert, recently withdrew a submission to council for a 255-lot housing estate off Cawdor Road in Highfields.

While the 32-hectare parcel is zoned as park residential, which is suited for lifestyle lots, the attached planning report argued it could host higher-density living with extra green spaces to meet the growth demands of Highfields.

“The low-density residential zone (park residential precinct) looks to create lots in a low density housing setting, with lots greater than 600 sqm: the report said.

“The proposed development creates lots greater ranging from 600 sqm to over 1000 sqm lots.

“The proposed subdivision looks to add additional park to the southeastern corner connecting the existing park (Stella Park) and provide a large open space for residents in the northwestern corner.”

The proposal has since been withdrawn by the applicant.

Real estate agent Julian Dickson, who is involved with the project, said Mr Lambert couldn’t secure a pre-lodgement meeting with the council’s planning department to ensure the more intense plan would get approved.

“The developer has decided, after investigating several sewer strategies, that while what is contemplated certainly would be viable and achievable under the plan that it would require council and community support to achieve it,” he said.

“The developer was unsuccessful in seeking a pre-lodgement meeting with council to determine if council planners would prefer the higher density contemplated by the greenfield zoning in their own plan.

“It’s a significant 32-hectare site centrally located in Highfields and once it’s rural residential the opportunity for it to be anything else is limited.”

Mr Dickson said the developer would likely submit another proposal for around 95 lots in the future.

“The developer is proposing a rural residential subdivision in line with the current zoning of the site,” he said.

The property, is currently used for farming, has been owned by the same family for decades.

It was listed for sale through Properties Ruhle Real Estate earlier this year before being taken off the market.