REVEALED: Council's 45ha Highfields Master Plan

THE Toowoomba Regional Council has officially revealed its new master plan for Highfields, scrapping the controversial previous draft.

THE Toowoomba Regional Council has officially revealed the timeline for its new master plan for Highfields, scrapping the controversial previous draft.

The Central Highfields Master Plan, based partially on more than 19 hectares of land the council bought off property developer Clive Berghofer last month, was unveiled on Wednesday.

Mayor Paul Antonio said the new 45-hectare concept featured a more comprehensive consultation period and removed all the controversial elements of the previous plan, including the resumption of people's houses.

NEW PLAN: The new area for the Central Highfields Master Plan, which was launched by the Toowoomba Regional Council on Wednesday October 11, 2017. Picture: Toowoomba Regional Council

"We've been very fortunate to secure some strategic, central land in Highfields and that gives us the opportunity to really get serious and go to the community to find out what they want so we can deliver something very special," he said.

"We've been very clear that it is a clean slate.

"We were not happy with what we did previously, so we made a very firm decision that this was a brand-new beginning.

"We're going to be as open as we possibly can to make sure everybody is heard in Highfields."

The consultation period kicks off on October 16, with every Highfields resident expected to receive a note in the mail about the master plan.

The first stage of the feedback period will take at least six weeks, where residents can give comments through mail, in-person, online and on social media through a new Facebook page.

TRC's Chris Tait and Mayor Paul Antonio back in July. Picture: Tom Gillespie

Planning and Development portfolio leader Cr Anne Glasheen said the previous draft failed because the community consultation wasn't good enough.

"(The previous plan) was the old way of doing it - this is the new way of doing community engagement," she said.

"Because it lost traction over a couple of years, it was time to go back and do it properly.

"It gives the community and council the chance to plan for the future."

The Chronicle revealed last month the council had bought the land off Mr Berghofer to stop a developer's plans for it.

In the wake of a serious backlash from residents, the councillors voted to scrap the forcible acquisition of people's homes to restructure main roads, and will not re-visit the Highfields Library.

HOW TO HAVE YOUR SAY

Highfields residents can have their say either online, in person, on social media or by phone.

Information sessions and workshops will be held at Highfields State School on Monday November 13 from 3.30pm, and at the Highfields Cultural Centre on Tuesday November 21 from 6.30pm.

You can also join the facilitated Facebook group Central Highfields Master Plan, which will be facilitated.

Residents can also send their suggestions on the website, or call the council on 131 872.

Originally published as REVEALED: Council's 45ha Highfields Master Plan