Toowoomba development: Council applications up for public consultation

The plans for two developments that would transform the Toowoomba region are now open to feedback from the public. Here’s how to have your say:

A plan for a $65m town centre, and a feedlot expansion are among the development applications now open to community feedback across the Toowoomba region.

A plan for a $65m town centre, feedlot expansion and extension to a character home are among the development applications now open to community feedback across the Toowoomba region.

Three proposals are open to community comment as part of their assessment process through Toowoomba Regional Council’s planning department.

These public comment campaigns are usually reserved for impact-assessable applications, which may include a change of use not covered by the land’s zoning.

Residents and stakeholders can make submissions either for or against a proposal via the council’s DA portal.

1. Glenvale Town Centre changes

Concept art for Gallagher Development Investment Group's Glenvale Town Centre project on Hursley Road in Glenvale.

The developer behind a planned $65m commercial precinct in Glenvale has brought the project back to the council for alterations.

Gallagher Development Investment Group’s proposed Glenvale Town Centre, slated for land previously occupied by the old Newtown rugby league grounds along Hursley Road, is back before the Toowoomba Regional Council again seeking approval for minor changes.

The new proposal would include the main tenancy, identified as Woolworths in the planning documents, but now expanded from 1500 sqm to 4000 sqm of floor space, large enough to cater for a full-line supermarket.

The most significant change is the introduction of a 1200 sqm warehouse next to the supermarket to cater for an “e-commerce hub” and home delivery hub to handle automated online orders.

Feedback can be left until May 15, 2025.

2. Feedlot expansion, Dunmore

Planned expansion of Waggaba feedlot at Dunmore, in Toowoomba region.

A beef feedlot in the western Toowoomba region could be expanded by up to 300 per cent if plans are approved by the council.

The Waggaba feedlot on Cecil Plains-Moonie Road at Dunmore is currently approved for 1000 head of cattle, with room for 570 already in operation.

Now operator Woods Livestock, which runs agricultural operations across Queensland, has lodged plans to increase this to 4000 by expanding the facility to the east.

According to the planning report by AgDSA’s Matt Norton, the extension would include infrastructure to ensure clean water coming from uphill is diverted around the feedlot.

“The proposed feedlot provides a small-scale opportunity to value add to the broader Woods Group by finishing their own cattle and using their own stockfeed,” the report said.

“The cattle will provide an added income source to further droughtproof the broader farming operations.

“The expanded feedlot will include the construction of a new controlled drainage area which will ensure all clean, upslope water is diverted around the feedlot and all contaminated run-off from the feedlot area is controlled and contained in a sedimentation basin and effluent holding pond.

Extra reports relating to vegetation management and traffic impacts were also submitted.

Feedback can be left until March 5, 2025.