Salvation Army approved by state government for new Toowoomba social housing development

A five-storey social housing development has been given the green light to be built in the Toowoomba CBD and all without council’s approval.

One of Australia’s most prominent charities has been given the green light to build a multistorey social housing complex in the Toowoomba CBD with nearly two dozen units.

In a rare bypassing of Toowoomba Regional Council, the Salvation Army has secured approval from the state government for the project on a 1200 sqm parcel it owns on Snell Street.

Designs show the development could have as much as five storeys, including an undercover car park and community care centre on the bottom floor.

The project will add another 23 dwellings to the social housing market, which has been severely under-serviced across Toowoomba for several years.

The Salvation Army has been approved by the state government, through a ministerial infrastructure designation, for a 23-unit social housing project on Snell Street in Toowoomba City.

It was secured with a “ministerial infrastructure designation” (MID), signed off by then-acting State Development and Infrastructure Minister Meaghan Scanlon in June.

The mechanism is an “alternative” to gaining approval through the council’s planning department, but projects must meet certain criteria to be eligible.

The decision notice indicates the Salvation Army met requirements for “community and cultural facilities” as well as “social or affordable housing”.

The Salvation Army was contacted for comment.

Darling Downs and Lockyer Valley convener for the Planning Institute of Australia Josh Leddy said MIDs were becoming more common across southeast Queensland as organisations and developers looked for more certainty, flexibility and timeliness with approvals.

“It is open to private and public infrastructure development — it can include schools, hospitals, community clubs, housing,” he said.

“It’s a great tool because it ensures an essential piece of infrastructure isn’t held up in appeals or courts.

“This social housing development was approved in three or four months (and) you get an in-concept approval and once you get to detailed design, you don’t need to go back if you need to make changes.”

Mr Leddy, who is also an associate director at local firm Property Projects Australia, welcomed the decision.

“I congratulate the state on getting it through — they’ve done a great job and it’s in a great spot,” he said.

The Toowoomba Regional Council was given a chance to make a submission on the application, with its responses factoring into the approval.

Planning and development portfolio leader, councillor Bill Cahill, said the TRC was aware of the project and welcomed the initiative.

“As part of the MID process, a proponent is required to consult with the local government,” he said.

“Toowoomba Regional Council has discussed the project on numerous occasions with the proponent and also provided a formal submission as part of the assessment process.

“Council is supportive of all efforts to increase the stock of affordable housing in our region.”