Toowoomba Officeworks approved, developer appeals council’s $600,000 infrastructure charge
The approval of a $30m retail and fast food project in Toowoomba has been appealed by its developer, after the council slugged them with a $600,000 infrastructure charge.
Development
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The developer behind a massive new retail showroom and fast food outlets in Toowoomba has appealed the council’s decision to issue a $600,000 infrastructure charge for the project.
Rob and Cathy Weymouth were given the green light in March for a new Officeworks and drive-through food and drink tenancies on the corner of James and West Streets in Harristown.
The site, which used to be home to the old Snap Fitness gym before its burned-down remains were demolished, will also include more than 120 car parks.
Council planning officer Jayden Forbes-Mitchell recommended its approval despite identifying the proposal’s inconsistency with the planning scheme on a number of fronts.
“It is not considered that the proposal services the convenience needs of the immediate local residential community or provides a local community or limited business function, because the catchment needed to make the development viable is well beyond the ‘immediate local residential community’,” he wrote in his assessment report.
“The proposed development conflicts with the purpose and overall outcomes sought for the low-medium density residential zone code and elements within the strategic framework in the planning scheme relating to non-residential development outside existing centres.
“On balance, the proposed development is recommended for approval despite noncompliance with one or more assessment benchmarks as detailed within the report, subject to the conditions in the recommendation.”
Nearly 150 conditions were attached with the approval, but the point of contention was the council’s decision to impose a $600,000 infrastructure charges fee.
The charge was calculated on the 3800 sqm of commercial space being built (at $197.20 per square metre) and the stormwater charge covering the 11,000 sqm of impervious land (at $10.95 per square metre).
A land use credit of $276,000 was subtracted from the charge.
Despite getting the go-ahead, the Weymouths’ town planner Marcus McNee sent a letter on April 6, requesting a suspension of the appeal period to gather information relating to the infrastructure charges.
The council is currently assessing the appeal.
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