Wirraglen Estate: Construction starts on 147-lot housing estate at Highfields by Hallmark Property
A massive $13m housing estate will expand the urban footprint of a major growth area north of Toowoomba — and its construction is considered ambitious by the builders.
Development
Don't miss out on the headlines from Development. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Construction has started on a major $13m housing estate north of Toowoomba, which will accommodate hundreds of new families in the region once fully realised.
Veteran developer Ian Knox’s company Hallmark Property turned sod on Wirraglen estate off Kleinton Road at Highfields.
The 147-lot subdivision over a parcel of land stretching 17 hectares will create new allotments averaging 750 sqm, with some as large as 1178 sqm.
Construction will also include a park, a green space corridor and detention basin, as well as a sewer pump.
Hutchinson Builders was appointed as the lead contractor and has started work on the site.
It comes six months after Hallmark Property was approved for the project by the Toowoomba Regional Council.
In a statement, Mr Knox said the entire development would be created upfront, with lots to be sold off in stages.
“Our vision is to deliver upfront, a fully constructed residential area, rather than completing it on a stage-by-stage basis,” he said.
“While this is a massive undertaking for any developer, we believe it will add real value to our Wirraglen residents.”
Project director Tim Colthup said he was thrilled to see the project moving ahead, calling it a “game changer”.
“After more than two years of planning and obtaining approvals, it’s a fantastic day when you finally see equipment arrive to site,” he said.
Mr Colthup said an expressions of interest offer had been released for the first 40 lots, with half of them already filled.
Hutchinson Builders Civil team leader Matt Dawson said building all infrastructure in one go was ambitious for Toowoomba.
“Delivering 147 lots in one go is something that the bigger players like your Stockland or LendLease might do. It’s definitely a first for this region,” he said.
“Our team is really excited to be involved in this project.”
Beyond ‘safe limits’: Dire prison warning as mega jail misses target
A new mega jail in Queensland’s southeast has been hit with massive delays and a quarter-billion dollar budget blowout, as the state’s prison population is stretched to the limit.
$1.2bn in works: 17 projects coming to Toowoomba in 2025
In what is expected to be another bumper year for the city’s development industry, more than $1bn worth of works are set to be completed or significantly advanced in 2025.
Top council bureaucrat departs amid major leadership shake-up
Just weeks after Toowoomba council’s chief executive announced the end of his tenure, another top bureaucrat is leaving the organisation for another region.
‘Above and beyond’: Massive over-50s project planned for growth area
More than 400 new homes for older residents could become a reality if a new retirement village is built in a high-growth area just outside Toowoomba.
‘No plans’: Heritage bank closures addressed
A major Toowoomba financial institution has responded to fears redundancies and changing trading hours would lead to regional branch closures in towns west of the city. Here’s what we know:
‘Zero odour’: $15m Darling Downs wagyu feedlot plan approved
A revamped plan for a new “high value” Wagyu cattle feedlot outside Toowoomba has been approved by the council, with its owner promising “zero odour” problems for neighbours.