Toowoomba Regional Council to vote on proposal for 1000-lot masterplanned community on Mt Kynoch at special meeting

The future of a 1000-lot masterplanned community north of Toowoomba will be decided at a special council meeting this week.

New layout images have been released of Habitat Mt Kynoch, which is currently in the public notification stage with the Toowoomba Regional Council.

A proposal for a $200 million master-planned community north of Toowoomba will face a council vote this week.

The application that will create the groundwork for Habitat Mt Kynoch, a 1000-lot subdivision situated between Harlaxton and Highfields, will be on the agenda at the TRC’s special meeting on Wednesday afternoon.

It was first proposed back in 2017 but has been in the planning stages for several years.

Council planner Peter Swan has recommended the development be approved, subject to several conditions.

Speaking on behalf of the developers, Precinct Urban Planning’s Andrew Bullen said the application was to simply lay the framework to facilitate the subsequent stagings.

“All these approvals are just putting the development framework in place,” he said.

“It’s like putting a mini planning scheme on the site, and then you can go back and submit for the lots.

“I reckon realistically any lots on the ground are still 12 months away (if this is approved).”

While the planned subdivision has been mostly unchanged, the developers will have to dedicate a portion of the land to the council to accommodate increasing the size of the nearby Mt Kynoch water treatment plant.

“Conditions have been included requiring the dedication of the land to council as trunk infrastructure as part of the first stage of development,” Mr Swan’s report said.

“Notwithstanding, due to uncertainty around the timing of development, it is understood the council has also separately resolved to commence acquisition of the land in line with the details outlined in the document.”

Much of the land is based outside the council’s current priority infrastructure area (PIA), meaning the construction of much of the trunk infrastructure will need to come at a cost to the developers.

Three submitters opposed the development, citing its impact on the surrounding trunk infrastructure like roads and sewerage.

The meeting will be held at 2pm on Wednesday.