Toowoomba Regional Council planning department in spotlight during tense development industry panel discussion
There is a “massive problem” facing the Toowoomba Regional Council some of the region’s top developers have warned at a tense industry event. Here's what has got some of the region’s most influential people so concerned.
Development
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SOME of the Toowoomba development industry’s most prominent voices have slammed the council’s handling of key projects during a major property luncheon.
TRC planning and development general manager Stewart Somers faced plenty of tough questions as part of a discussion panel at the Colliers Property Outlook event on Friday, which also featured the Wagner Corporation’s Denis Wagner and top town planner Andrew Bullen.
While the initial discussions followed on from property analyst Michael Matusik’s report on residential land supply, the debate quickly turned on the TRC’s planning department.
Mr Somers defended the council’s planning processes, saying developers who worked with the council and provided all necessary information shouldn’t see problems.
“Every developer knows that if you want a really good swift approval, work with planning staff at council, get the information in with the application as required, and you’ll get your approval in a short time,” he said.
“There are people here will attest to that.”
Mr Wagner, whose company recently completed a lengthy and costly legal battle with the council over infrastructure charges attached to the Wellcamp Airport and Business Park, said the saga showed the planning process needed correcting.
“We had two options – either pay it, and the quantum of it was in excess of $70 million, or we contest it in court, and that has been going on for years in court,” he said.
“Your point about properly made applications and working with council, I take some issue with that.”
The discussion turned to the amount of appeals to council decisions in the planning and environment court, which was raised by prominent planning lawyer Andrew Davis.
“Five years ago Stewart, we didn’t have a problems with the number of appeals (in Toowoomba) but now we do,” he said.
“I’d suggest there is a massive problem in the development and assessment unit.”
Mr Wagner also weighed in on the issue, saying he was concerned by the situation.
“If you do look at the number of appeals that the council has against its decision, it’s actually quite frightening,” he said.
“There needs to be a change whether its in policy, procedure or personnel, something needs to give.”