Should council offer more to fix heritage CBD buildings?
COUNCILLORS have floated contributing more money towards the re-beautification of commercial heritage buildings in the region’s smaller towns.
Toowoomba
Don't miss out on the headlines from Toowoomba. Followed categories will be added to My News.
MEMBERS of the Toowoomba Regional Council have floated contributing more money towards the re-beautification of commercial heritage buildings in the region's smaller towns.
The idea was highlighted by several councillors at this morning's ordinary meeting, after planning and development general manager Stewart Somers noted the TRC had not been overwhelmed with applications for the CBD heritage incentives scheme in recent months.
Under the scheme, the council would contribute up to $10,000 per project on a 50-50 ratio with the applicant, for works like repainting the building, reinstalling character features and the removal of unsympathetic elements like advertising signs.
After receiving confirmation that the scheme was open to heritage buildings in small towns like Clifton and Crows Nest, Cr Tim McMahon asked whether the 50-50 ratio could be increased.
"Is there any talk that we may change the 50 per cent contribution?" he said.
"I was in Crows Nest yesterday, and there are some lovely heritage buildings that are really falling apart (or) seeing deterioration.
"(We went to) Clifton earlier too, which is a similar story.
"I'd like to see maybe a better contribution from council to some of those regional areas."
Crs Kerry Shine and Rebecca Vonhoff both agreed with the sentiment, particularly since the removal of old lead paint from heritage buildings was an expensive exercise.
"With those historic buildings, a lot of them do have lead paint and the removal of that is far more than $10,000 and does go into the six figures," Cr Vonhoff said.
"A conversation for a point (in the future), and maybe there are some ways we can approach the State Government as well (for assistance).
"There are beautiful heritage buildings in places such as Crows Nest and Clifton, and painting something like the Crows Nest Post Office would make such a difference to the town, but we're talking about a lot of money to do that.
"It's one to have a chat about at some point."
For more information about the scheme, head to the council website.
Arts centre carries on legacy of Toowoomba great
A regional theatre championing youth arts has celebrated its tenth anniversary following the sad passing of its namesake benefactor.
New Acland reports bumper profits on back of expansion
The owners of New Acland Coal reported a 26 per cent increase in output, leading to a net profit of almost half a billion dollars.
Highfields residents wake to find knife-wielding intruders in their home
Police are hunting multiple offenders after Highfields residents woke up to a terrifying incident where they were threatened with a knife, with a robbery following in Newtown.
‘We got inundated’: Dozens come forward in school sexual abuse claim
The law firm investigating historical child sexual abuse at a prominent Christian College in Queensland said it was blown away by the number of people who came forward after it made a public appeal for information.
‘With great care’: Students volunteer at holiday camp
Children living with a disability were invited to a holiday camp at Toowoomba Grammar school where they were cared for by a cohort of year 11 students.
Barbecue, beers, butcher wars: Meatstock’s grilling return in 2025
Toowoomba’s favourite and only finger-licking good barbecue festival is set to return with an event like none before. Check out when tickets go on sale here.