Mixed reactions to Highfields master plan by residents

HIGHFIELDS residents might not completely agree with everything in the council’s new master plan for the area, but at least they know it exists.

NEW PLANS: Concept art and layouts for the new Central Highfields Master Plan, which was completed across nine months based on community consultation. Picture: Toowoomba Regional Council

HIGHFIELDS residents might not completely agree with everything in the council's new master plan for the area, but at least they know it exists.

That's the view of the treasurer of the Highfields District Progress Association, who praised the TRC's consultation process to develop the Central Highfields master plan.

The scheme, endorsed by the councillors at committee meetings this week, was compiled based on the comments and feedback of nearly 500 residents across nine months.

NEW PLANS: Concept art and layouts for the new Central Highfields Master Plan, which was completed across nine months based on community consultation. Picture: Toowoomba Regional Council

Association treasurer Matt Bishop thought the plan was a strong improvement on the previous effort, which was released last year to derision and outcry from the Highfields community.

But he said there were still questions around how the council could execute its vision of a green, diverse and well-spaced township without the influence of developers.

"This is how (consultation) should've been done the first time," he said.

"Even though they put it on the website (last time), it's not like everyone was checking it.

"Obviously, they're not developers. They're going to on-sell it to people who want to develop it in the future.

"I'm hoping they're going to have more control over (its development).

"Hopefully the council will put in controls to stop it from becoming something else."

Mr Bishop said the TRC needed to answer whether there was any future-proofing controls going in to stop other councils changing its vision.

"One of the concerns is in 20 years, will future councils turn around and produce a new master plan?" he asked.

"Is this going to be the final thing, or will it change?"

Mr Bishop was also concerned with the potential to use some of the new streets as an alternative to the Kratzke Rd turnoff.

But he said the immediate problem surrounded the delay to the O'Brien Rd intersection upgrade, which he said was forcing schoolchildren to cross Highfields Rd dangerously.

"On both sides, they come from both schools and fly across the intersection and it's dangerous," Mr Bishop said.

The council will now plan the exact locations of new roads, streets, walkways and infrastructure before starting construction.

Cr Chris Tait told The Chronicle yesterday it would have a similar consultation process to the previous sessions.

One of three proposed layouts for the Highfields Central Master Plan, which were presented to residents during consultations. Picture: Toowoomba Regional Council

Originally published as Mixed reactions to Highfields master plan by residents