Toowoomba developers, experts weigh in on potential locations for new 10,000-seat stadium

Where would be the best place be for a new 10,000-seat stadium in Toowoomba? Some of the city’s leading developers and experts have weighed in. VOTE IN OUR POLL HERE:

Toowoomba is slated to get a 5000-seat stadium in time for the 2032 Olympics — but is there a better solution?

That’s the pitch made to some of the city’s top developers and leading experts on stadium infrastructure, who have suggested a range of locations where a large sports venue could go in the Garden City.

The state government announced in March it would upgrade the existing Clive Berghofer by 2028, which was confirmed in the federal budget this month.

This would involve installing just 2600 extra seats into the East Toowoomba site, bringing its total seated capacity to 5000.

Another 10,000 temporary seats would then be installed for the Olympics before being removed.

The announcement comes despite the fact the region’s community leaders believe Toowoomba deserves a stadium with between 10,000 and 20,000 seats — depending on who you ask.

With the city having hosted two NRL matches and finally earning a Hostplus Cup team for the first time in 17 years, there are arguments a 10,000-seat venue would be suitable.

The Chronicle has gathered the thoughts of several top developers and experts, sorting their opinions and suggestions into five different locations.

Toowoomba Hospital. Picture: Peta McEachern

1. Current Toowoomba Hospital site

The pitch: With the new $1bn Toowoomba Hospital at Baillie Henderson is built by 2027, what should come of the current location on Pechey Street?

Developer and Wagner Corporation chairman John Wagner believes the 7.5 hectare site would be the perfect space for a major sports facility, arguing it was close to town and could service parking requirements.

John Wagner, quarantine hub at Wellcamp Airport. Monday, December 20, 2021. Picture: Nev Madsen.

“I think something like the old Toowoomba Hospital site, something close to the CBD,” he said.

This idea has been supported by Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise’s Mark Mason, who himself has worked on previous Olympic Games in Sydney and London.

The problem: Aside from the major demolitions that would be required to clear the site, Darling Downs Health has made it clear the old hospital still had significant value for medical services.

“The world’s your oyster with the CBD site,” DDH chairman Mike Horan said.

LOOK AHEAD: The Toowoomba Regional Council has given residents a glimpse of what the $197m Toowoomba Region Sports Precinct at Charlton could look like once fully built.

2. Toowoomba Region Sports Precinct

The pitch: The Toowoomba Regional Council has continued work on its $197m sports precinct at Charlton.

The enormous master plan, which is to be developed over seven stages on more than 135 hectares, will include an extensive mix of fields, arenas and courts to host literally dozens of different sports – often at once.

The focus of the precinct is on upgrading the quality and quantity of community sporting infrastructure across the region, but Wagner Corporation’s John Wagner believes the site could be used for a suitable 10,000-seat stadium to host professional events.

“Charlton is another good area for it, it could go there,” he said.

“We should do something on the outskirts of the CBD.”

This also seems to fit with veteran developer Clive Berghofer’s vision for a new stadium, which he believes needs to be on a greenfields site with enough space for parking.

“You’d build it somewhere where it could be expanded — you’d have to get out on the fringes somewhere,” he said.

The idea is aided by the fact space has been allocated in the existing master plan for a premier sporting hub at the front of the site, along with large rectangular and oval fields and a future multipurpose indoor sports centre to host events like basketball and netball.

The problem: Councillor Tim McMahon said while he was not opposed to the concept, community was the primary purpose behind the TRSP.

“Basically, the demand is grassroots fields for grassroots teams — it’s not supposed to be a stadium,” he said.

“That being said, stage six has got a premier sporting facility (but) that is in there in the later stage — the first few stages are rectangle and oval fields.”

The location is also problem; a number of developers who spoke with The Chronicle said any 10,000-seat stadium needed to be within Toowoomba’s urban precinct and close to public transport.

Toowoomba Aerodrome. Photo Andrew Backhouse / The Chronicle

3. Toowoomba Aerodrome

The pitch: One of the more ambitious proposals for a new stadium would be reusing the existing Toowoomba Aerodrome as a major sports precinct.

Ian Knox.

Developer Ian Knox, who is currently having plans drawn up, has envisioned the 66-hectare space as a premier hub for a variety of sports and activities.

“The whole site will be fully masterplanned, including the stadium and all the associated sports environments,” he said.

“Let’s take a visionary approach — we need a new aquatics centre, a water park and we need parking for 800 to 1000 cars on-site.

“We need a new basketball stadium that can facilitate quality events — they can all be integrated into that environment.

“At the moment they’re wanting to spend an ungodly amount of money on the old stadium when you’ve got to start with a master plan and add all the associated.”

Mr Knox said existing tenants of the aerodrome, which include the Darling Downs Aero Club, RACQ LifeFlight and the Royal Flying Doctor Service, could be moved to Wellcamp Airport.

The problem: The most obvious issue associated with this proposal would be relocating all tenants of the aerodrome to Wellcamp, and whether the private airport had the space to accommodate them and their requirements.

Structures like hangars and offices occupy roughly 16 hectares of the aerodrome’s area.

Moreover, the state government pointed out in 2018 that the ground under the aerodrome could be subject to contamination due to site’s previous use as a dump.

This was highlighted after someone else raised the possibility the aerodrome could serve a higher purpose.

The council has also expressed no desire to sell off the asset, arguing it was an important piece of infrastructure.

Western Clydesdales against Northern Pride in Hostplus Cup rugby league at Clive Berghofer Stadium, Saturday, May 13, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer

4. Existing stadium site

The pitch: It’s seen by many as the most straightforward prospect — take the existing Clive Berghofer Stadium (or Toowoomba Sports Ground) and simply upgrade it.

That is the view of the government, although it is not prepare to permanently install 10,000 seats in the East Toowoomba location.

But leading sports infrastructure expert Jason Leslie told The Chronicle he believed the corner of Mary and Arthur Streets should remain the location of Toowoomba’s stadium.

Sporting infrastructure planner Jason Leslie thinks money should be spent on upgrading the Clive Berghofer Stadium. Monday, December 13, 2021. Picture: Nev Madsen.

Mr Leslie cited Suncorp Stadium’s position within Milton, surrounded by residential suburbs.

“The best functioning rectangular stadium in Australia is Suncorp, because of its central location and proximity to the CBD,” he said in 2021.

“Everyone who goes there is using alternative transport, and they have heavy residential development around it — like Clive Berghofer Stadium.”

The problem: Toowoomba is not considered by many to be a city well-connected by public transport, a point Mr Leslie conceded would need to improve for Clive Berghofer to remain viable.

According to census data, just one in 20 Toowoomba residents commuted by any other means except a car.

Other developers pointed out how boxed-in the site was, with neighbouring sporting clubs unlikely to move to accommodate extra parking and other facilities.

John Wagner criticised the current spot, arguing a new build would be more cost effective than upgrading ageing infrastructure.

“Toowoomba needs a decent stadium in the right spot, and it’s not there — it’s close to residential, there’s no parking,” he said.

“It’s a short-sited move from the government.

“It needs to be something that is first-class and built for the next 50 years, not trying to patch up something that’s 40 years old.”

Flyover concept shots of the upcoming $60m Toowoomba Railway Parklands project in the CBD.

5. Railway Parklands

The pitch: The incoming Toowoomba president of the Urban Development Institute of Australia Rob Weymouth has long seen the Railway Parklands as a potential space to host a stadium.

Land developer Rob Weymouth. Picture: Nev Madsen.

He said the area met his criteria for a sports venue – it being close to the CBD and near public transport.

“If you could have a stadium close to the city, that would be fantastic,” he said.

“Our public transport isn’t good enough, so if there’s not enough parking that’s going to be an issue.

“I thought the Railway Parklands would be good — I think they should revisit that site.

“You go to the stadium there in Brisbane, it’s right in the city, so my opinion would be closer to town.”

Hodge Real Estate's Edward Hodge.

While he didn’t specifically endorse the parklands, outgoing UDIA Toowoomba president Edward Hodge stressed the need for a new stadium to be close to the centre of town.

“It’s only a matter of time before Toowoomba gets a new purpose-built stadium,” he said.

“I’d like to see it kept close to the CBD so that it enhances the city centre and drives urban renewal.”

The problem: Of the alternate sites suggested here, the Railway Parklands is one of the smallest.

A far bigger problem is its narrow shape and proximity to rail lines that have not been disused yet.

Moreover, the Railway Parklands is in the SEQ City Deal with the aim of boosting liveability in the CBD.

The Toowoomba Regional Council has envisioned the parklands to be a premier green space with community facilities, hoping it will encourage higher-density projects within the priority development area.