Hutchinson Builders to start work on Toowoomba CBD residential project by developers Barry and Mitchell Bernoth

The company helmed with building a major new unit tower in the Toowoomba CBD says the project could be transformative for the city’s centre. Details here:

Hutchinson Builders team leader Sean Lees with plans for Barry and Mitchell Bernoth's Mylne St project. Friday, May 13, 2022. Picture: Nev Madsen.

A pioneering residential project in the Toowoomba CBD will create work for 1000 tradespeople and inject millions into the region’s economy.

That’s according to Hutchinson Builders, which has been helmed with building local developers Barry and Mitchell Bernoth’s new unit tower on Mylne Street.

Work will start within two months on the 12-unit project, which also includes space for commercial enterprises on the ground floor.

The development was first proposed in September 2020, before being approved by the Toowoomba Regional Council last year.

Hutchinson Builders team leader Sean Lees praised the Bernoths for expanding Toowoomba’s currently limited inner-city living options.

“Mitchell and Barry Bernoth have been brave with the type of product they’re bringing to Toowoomba,” he said.

“These are the sorts of projects that can revitalise the CBD, so it’s a good thing for all of us.

“Toowoomba’s CBD activation is the missing piece to kick us into a new phase of metro life.

“Inner-city living works so well in other parts of Australia, and Toowoomba is ready for it.”

Mr Lees said the project’s anticipated workforce underlined how important the construction sector was to Toowoomba’s economy.

“The average site numbers will be around 70, but we’ll see about 1000 people involved in the project over its life,” he said.

“For a long time, the construction sector has been an enormous part of Australia’s GDP.

“Toowoomba is no different, we’re lucky to have a local economy that can sustain continuous projects.”

Along with being strategically important, Mr Lees said the five storey development had been designed with its visual amenity from the street in mind.

“Anytime you’re talking about a vertical building, there are a number of considerations,” he said.

“There are a couple of clever things we’re doing with design, and I’d say there are some attractive uses of screening which will increase the visual amenity and provide extra shading for residents.

“The thing about these vertical buildings in a CBD context is you’ve got to be very careful with its impacts and I think on this one does a good job.”

Construction is expected to take about 12 months.

The council has expressed a desire to see more residents moving into the Toowoomba CBD over the coming years and has stepped up its efforts to incentivise developers.

It extended its temporary CBD incentives policy last year, which gives viable projects an infrastructure charges discount.

Mr Bernoth told The Chronicle last year he would try to secure the reduction for his Mylne Street project.