Potential Highfields road conflicting with major project

IT’S the proposed transport corridor to the west of Toowoomba that no one wants to talk about.

A convoy of trucks on the Toowoomba Bypass, seen from New England Highway.

IT'S the proposed transport corridor to the west of Toowoomba that no one wants to talk about.

Eventually, a second road between Highfields and Toowoomba will be necessary because of population growth north of the Garden City.

Planning on a potential second road has already begun.

But investigations have revealed a potential clash with another significant regional project.

The idea of a major sports precinct for Toowoomba was first made public in March 2013 when Toowoomba Regional Council announced plans to turn a 44ha site at Charlton into Toowoomba's sporting hub.

It acquired the land for $1.1 million in 2013.

Fast forward two years and plenty of work and the council adopted a $192 million Charlton Sports Precinct Master Plan.

But it then emerged that the Department of Transport and Main Roads was investigating road corridor options which "will impact the precinct".

According to an entry was posted to the Otium Planning Group website but which has been deleted since The Chronicle posed questions to the department, the department engaged Otium Planning Group "to assist the Department with an analysis of future potential layouts for the Charlton Sports Precinct in order to determine if the Precinct can be successfully reconfigured within any of the alternative options".

The Chronicle asked DTMR for more information about the new transport corridor, how it would impact the precinct and how the analysis of potential future layouts was proceeding.

"We are currently investigating potential corridor options," a department spokesman said.

"We have consulted with Toowoomba Regional Council to ensure the Charlton Sports Precinct is considered as part of these investigations."

The Chronicle requested more information from DTMR and was told the potential corridor options referred to "the development of possible road options for traffic travelling north and south" and that the department was unable to provide any further information.

The Chronicle asked similar questions of Toowoomba Regional Council, but the council came back saying it was unable to comment - even on its own project, the Charlton Sports Precinct - because the corridor was a matter for the department.