Toowoomba Regional Council approves multistorey CBD apartment block

The Toowoomba Regional Council has approved a major new development in the CBD, which the chair of planning says will be a major boost for the city.

Updated plans for Barry Bernoth's planned apartment block on Mylne St in the Toowoomba CBD.

The developer behind a major new residential apartment block in the Toowoomba CBD has welcomed its approval by the council.

Barry Bernoth was given the green light this week by the Toowoomba Regional Council to start work on his four-storey, 12-unit tower on Mylne St, just 60m from Grand Central Shopping Centre.

The 15m-tall building will include a variety of one, two and three-bedroom units with balconies, 21 car parks, a communal landscaped garden area and space for a small commercial project on the ground floor.

Mr Bernoth said more residential development was needed for the CBD, welcoming the council’s decision.

“It’s all good news and it’s going to get a few more people living in the city,” he said.

“We’ve only just heard of the approval, so now we’ve got that approval, we can start getting under way with the final drawings and looking at the other projects on our plate (before construction).”

“We’re very supportive of developments like the Bernoth one in Mylne St,” she said.

“It’s exactly the sort of thing we do want, bringing residential development into the CBD.

“It’s a welcome innovation from this development, and we hope they’ll start construction soon.”

TRC planning and development chair Cr Megan O’Hara Sullivan said it was ready to support residential projects in the CBD as part of a plan to further activate the city centre.

The small commercial space was an area of contention between the applicant and the council’s planners, who said the development should have a ground-floor tenancy for a shop or eatery.

Mr Bernoth’s town planner replied saying the tower’s proximity to Grand Central would make it a less desirable spot for a potential tenant.

The compromise was a patch of astroturf on the ground floor, which could cater for a pop-up coffee shop or food outlet.

Mr Bernoth said he was happy with the planning result.

“I think the council has demonstrated that it’s willing to work to create a solution that suits all parties,” he said.

“I think that’s a good outcome.”