Toowoomba Officeworks: Need for proposed $30m commercial precinct questioned by council officers

A proposal to create a $30m commercial precinct near the centre of Toowoomba has been questioned by council. Here’s where the project is at.

The need for a proposed new $30m Toowoomba commercial precinct featuring an Officeworks has been questioned by the council.

Developer Rob Weymouth lodged the major project, which would sit on the site of notorious former eyesore Snap Fitness on the corner of James and West Street in Harristown, with the council in August.

The proposal, which is being assessed through council’s planning department, includes the relocation and expansion of the city’s Officeworks from Hume Street and the creation of two drive-through fast food tenancies.

An economic impact assessment by Econisis was also submitted with the application, which argued that not only was there a need for the project but it would generate $26m in additional output and support more than 100 full-time jobs.

The council responded to the application in late August with a significant information request, which included a peer review of the Econisis report that questioned its conclusions.

“Overall, it is our view that the Econisis report does not demonstrate economic need for the proposal, nor does it provide sufficient information for council to make an informed decision in relation to a DA,” Foresight Partners’ Jordan Musk wrote in his peer review.

“Importantly, the report does not provide a quantitative economic impact assessment nor showroom supply assessment, and a significant provision of existing food and drink outlets have been overlooked.”

REVEALED: Officeworks will be the anchor tenant of a $30m project replacing the infamous Snap Fitness eyesore on the corner of James and West Streets in Harristown.

The council also raised questions about the buildings’ designs, site layout, vehicle access and landscaping, among other aspects.

In response to the peer review and the information request in general, town planners Property Projects Australia provided new letters from Econisis that applied the changes and still found a need for the types of businesses to be located inside the precinct.

“Overall, the amendments to the fast food and takeaway assessment as requested by council and Foresight Partners indicates a tighter market environment in 2024/25 than the original assessment,” the letter said.

“However, it also highlights that existing supply within the area is comprised of a larger stock of non-national branded tenancies as well as supply that is not directly comparable or competitive with the proposed development (including sizeable floor space linked to taverns/hotels).

“Yet despite the inclusion of this supply, the trading impact of the oversupply in 2024/25 is regarded as minor and temporary and does not present any risk to the sustainability of the catchment network.”

The application is impact-assessable, meaning a public notification period will need to be carried out by the applicant.