Toowoomba commercial precinct by sporting legends Benny Elias, Mick Doohan approved by council
Two of Australia’s most recognisable sporting icons have been given the green light to build a massive new commercial precinct just in Toowoomba — but it comes with a hefty council bill.
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Two sporting legends have been given the green light to build a massive mixed-use commercial precinct in a key growth corridor west of Toowoomba.
New South Wales rugby league great Benny Elias and world motorcycle champion Mick Doohan have been approved by the Toowoomba Regional Council to create a 6900 sqm project along the Warrego Highway at Charlton.
The site is currently occupied by the old Bronco Motor Inn, which closed years ago and has become an eyesore along the highway.
According to the final designs assessed by the council, the new precinct would include a 61-room motel, a 2200 sqm supermarket, a 450 sqm liquor outlet, another 500 sqm of retail tenancies, a drive-through food and drink outlet and a 1500 sqm tavern and hotel.
The proposal, expected to cost upwards of $10m to build, also includes 260 car parks to support the expected traffic to the area.
Senior council planner Sophie Spencer approved the development, attaching more than 120 conditions to her decision.
Her assessment report concluded that while the shopping centre was “in excess” of the demand for the intended use in the Charlton area, she considered the development was “generally consistent” with the intent of the zoning.
The council imposed an infrastructure charges bill of nearly $1.1m as part of the development approval.
Elias and Doohan have owned the 2.6ha site since 2007, with the pair hoping to propose something on the site as far back as 2012.
Speaking to News Corp last year, Mr Elias said he had been a big fan of Toowoomba for years.
“It’s probably one of the prettiest regional towns, and the opportunities are unlimited,” he said in August.
“It’s a place of growth and I love driving into Toowoomba, it’s got the beautiful trees in the streets, so it ticks all the boxes.
“A lot of people up there are very clever, a lot of farmers who have done very well, and Toowoomba seems to be a place to invest.
“Every time I go up there, there’s something on the horizon happening — in Charlton you’ve got the Wagner group who built the airport and a lot of infrastructure.”
Mr Elias was contacted for comment. It is unclear when construction might start on the project.
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