Council endorses $6.2m master plan for key park corridor
THREE parks in Toowoomba’s southern suburbs will be upgraded as part of the council’s new master plan for the East Creek Linear Corridor.
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THREE major parks in Toowoomba's southern suburbs will be upgraded with new facilities as part of the council's new master plan for the East Creek Linear Corridor.
Lake Annand Park, Emmerson Park and the Toowoomba Waterbird Habitat, which are all based on or near East Creek as it runs through Centenary Heights and Rangeville, will receive major upgrades after a council vote at committee meetings last week.
The set of three master plans will cost an estimated $6.2 million, with funding to come from the Local Government Infrastructure Plan and other council reserves.
According to the report by TRC senior landscape architect Ingrid Steinhardt, the corridor was identified as an area for improvement in the council's 2016 Toowoomba Region Open Space Strategy.
"The current park embellishments do not meet the desired standards of service for a district recreation park (Linear Corridor as identified in the TROSS," the report said.
"The southern end of the Centenary Heights catchment currently does not have any at-standard district recreation facilities.
"The proposed improvements will not impede any known future works within the East Creek corridor and will be subject to detailed design review to ensure there are no flood implications."
Ms Steinhardt's report said the proposed improvements to the three open spaces would help them meet the aims of linear corridors in the TROSS, which included promoting exercise and active transport, providing connectivity between key destinations and offering a variety of park experiences.
It comes after the council endorsed the upgrade of Thiess Park in Darling Heights for $2.1 million.
TRC environment and community portfolio leader Cr Tim McMahon said the three parks and other natural spaces across the city would be a benefit for the community.
"The adoption of master plans for these parks will provide future design directions allowing the council to plan staged park upgrades," Cr McMahon said.
"These park areas have limited recreational facilities, and upgrades would be required to meet district recreation standard.
"The upgrades of recreational facilities planned in the proposed master plans would encourage people to visit and stay longer in the parks."
All master plans still have to be ratified by the councillors at today's ordinary meeting.