Toowoomba Growth Areas: 55 Estates [Apr 2024]

Toowoomba is a regional city, located on the crest of the Great Dividing Range in Queensland and approximately 116.5 square kilometres in area, forming part of the Darling Downs Region and administered by the Toowoomba Regional Council. 

Located 126 kilometres west of Brisbane, the Toowoomba region contains over 80 suburbs and towns suburbs, large parks, hospitals, city centre, hotels, commercial and industrial areas, residential areas, shopping centre, art galleries, museums, universities, national parks and 86 schools. 

Toowoomba city forms part of the Toowoomba Local Government Area (LGA) which covers an area of approximately 12,957 square kilometres and the boundaries are defined by the surrounding local government areas, which include the Goondiwindi Regional Council to the west, the Lockyer Valley Regional Council to the south, and the Southern Downs Regional Council to the south-east.

Toowoomba City is located in the eastern boundary of the regional area, bounded by national park reserves, boundary road and Geddes Road to the east,  Fittons Road, Chakler Street, Anzac Avenue, Darling Street, Boundary Street South, Drayton Wellcamp Road, Gowrie Junction Road, small local streets and property boundaries to the west. The new Toowoomba bypass is the physical barrier to the north and property boundaries to the south.

A local road network is found throughout Toowoomba city, providing access to the city suburbs and surrounding townships via the local network of roads. James Street runs through the middle of the city and connects to the Toowoomba Connection Road to the east and Toowoomba – Athol Road to the west. The Warrego Highway runs in a north-east direction from its connection to the Toowoomba Bypass. 

The Oakey Cooyar Road and New England Highway connect to the northern townships, while the Gore Highway, Toowoomba – Karara Road, New England Highway, and Millmerran - Inglewood Road provide access to the southern townships in the region. Historically, the main access to Toowoomba city was via the range crossing, which is why all major roads lead to the city.

The Toowoomba Regional Council is currently engaged in a City Centre Master Plan process that aims to acknowledge the achievements of priority projects implemented over the past decade, as well as to gather insight into the community's priorities for the upcoming decade. The central business district, located east of the city centre, is delimited by the boundaries of Hume Street, Herries Street, Russell Street, Chalk Drive, Victoria Street, and Clifford Street.

Toowoomba City Centre Master Plan

The City Centre Master Plan (2010-2030) considers the ‘City Centre’ area, which encompasses a number of key locations for future growth and renewal. It includes the city core which Is anchored by Queen's Park and Laurel Bank Park, The Hospital Precinct to the south and the Railway Precinct to the north. Key corridors Include East and West Creeks and the Railway line and the historic station.

The Inland Rail project, coupled with the recent $850 million worth of investment in over 40 projects in the CBD and Railway Parklands Priority Development Area (PDA), is positioning the Toowoomba region as a fast-growing and attractive destination for investment. This investment includes a significant $500 million investment by the Queensland Investment Corporation in the Grand Central Shopping Centre. 

This highlights the potential of the region and its ability to attract both public and private sector investments. The Inland Rail project will further enhance Toowoomba's reputation as a thriving region by improving the connectivity and accessibility to domestic and global markets.

Inland Rail

The Inland Rail is a transformative infrastructure project that aims to connect regional Australia to domestic and global markets by revolutionizing the way we move freight across the country. It is the largest freight rail infrastructure project in Australia, spanning over 1700km, and will complete the crucial link between Melbourne and Brisbane via regional Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland. 

The Australian Government, through the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC), is delivering this multi-billion dollar project in partnership with the private sector. The Toowoomba Regional Council area is home to two Inland Rail projects: 

• the New South Wales/Queensland Border to Gowrie
• the Gowrie to Helidon sections.

The Inland Rail is a Federal Government-led project, with the route chosen and fully managed by the Federal Government through the ARTC. The Toowoomba Regional Council does not possess any power or influence over the Inland Rail alignment or land tenure issues and has not been requested to endorse the route. The Council is however advocating for improved outcomes from the Inland Rail project, including additional project elements, to benefit the Toowoomba Region and will continue to collaborate closely with ARTC to minimize any negative impacts. ARTC is responsible for engaging with landholders and stakeholders on all matters related to the project.

Toowoomba Growth Strategy
The Toowoomba Region Growth Plan is a long-term plan for the sustainable development of the Toowoomba region in Queensland, Australia. The plan sets out a vision for the region's future and outlines strategies for achieving that vision in areas such as economic development, infrastructure, transportation, housing, and environmental protection. The plan is developed and implemented by the Toowoomba Regional Council and is intended to guide decision-making and investment in the region over the coming years.

The Growth Strategy for the Toowoomba Region, based on community consultation in March 2021, includes two options for consideration in managing future growth:

• Option 1 - Convenience: This option focuses on improving the infrastructure and services in existing communities to make them more convenient for residents. This could include upgrading transportation, shopping centres, and recreational facilities. The goal is to make it easier for people to live, work, and play in the same area, reducing the need for long commutes and promoting a sense of community.
• Option 2 - New Communities: This option focuses on developing new communities in areas that are currently undeveloped or underutilized. This could include building new housing estates, shopping centres, and other infrastructure in these areas. The goal is to provide more housing options and create new centres of activity to support population growth in the region.

Both options have their own advantages and disadvantages, and the best course of action would depend on the specific goals and context of the Toowoomba region.

The analysis confirmed that both growth options: 

• are realistic and plausible, presenting legitimate approaches for managing population and employment growth through to 2051; 
• are responsive to good planning outcomes and contemporary policy, meeting dwelling and employment projections, providing for good access to employment and open space, as well as addressing natural hazards to ensure protection of life and property, integrating land use and infrastructure planning while also addressing community values and aspirations; 
• address the long term need for diversity in housing choices for growing and changing population; 
• balance and manage impacts on values, such as Agricultural land and Interurban breaks; and 
• build on the foundations set under the current planning scheme and ShapingSEQ 2041 in terms of future growth and present logical extensions of the urban footprint.

Potential future growth areas are identified under both the New Communities and Convenience growth options in the Toowoomba Region Growth Plan as areas where a significant amount of new growth is anticipated. These areas are where new land use planning policy will need to be applied in order to achieve the projected growth and good planning outcomes. The maps provided in the plan give a strategic view of the future settlement pattern that will be required to support the growth up to 2051. It is important to note that the maps are just a representation of potential growth areas and the actual growth may vary depending on various factors such as market conditions, infrastructure availability, and community needs.

The Toowoomba Regional Council produced a Growth Plan summary report that analysed the Growth Options and prepared a growth statement that draws on the key elements of the Toowoomba Regional Community Plan, Darling Downs Regional Plan, ShapingSEQ.

Growth Statement - 

Growth in the Toowoomba region will be sustained and well managed with more than 230,000 people calling the region home by 2051. The Toowoomba region will be a network of unique and wellconnected towns with a range of housing, employment, and lifestyle opportunities, anchored by Toowoomba city as a vibrant regional capital and hub for the Darling Downs. Through managing growth, the local character and sense of place will be maintained and enhanced. 

The rich tapestry of natural assets across the Region underpin the local identity across diverse landscapes, from famous parks and gardens in the city and iconic suburban street trees to the fertile agricultural plains and bushland parks. Recognising the value of nature, a defined settlement pattern will provide opportunities to shape, preserve and create a network of green infrastructure that will support our communities, enrich our environment and maintain our liveability in a changing climate. 

Growth is directed to areas which minimise the impacts of natural hazards, including projected impacts of climate change. The network of towns and Toowoomba city are planned to include a mix of land uses and supporting infrastructure reflective of planning housing and employment growth. Provision is made for land to support existing and emerging industries and employment. 

Growth is supported through the provision of suitable infrastructure and services and occurs in a manner that preserves the unique values of the region and protects communities from hazards. A balanced mix of housing will ensure that there are opportunities for people as their needs and preferences change over time. The heritage character and unique identity of the Toowoomba region is celebrated and preserved through considered development that seeks to complement established street character and values heritage buildings.

Further townships within the Toowoomba regional area have been included in the  growth plan
 

The Toowoomba City Council, part of the Far North Queensland Region is experiencing a period of significant growth and change that will provide opportunities for its people and businesses. A Priority Development Area (PDA) was Declared in November 2018 and varied in February 2020, with the Toowoomba South State Development Area (SDA)  providing 1159 hectares for regionally significant industrial development over two separate areas. The Toowoomba South SDA facilitates economic growth and diversification of the Toowoomba economy as well as job creation to support the long-term needs of the Toowoomba region. The SDA provides benefits to businesses and industries looking to invest in Queensland such as:

Toowoomba Railway Parklands PDA

The Toowoomba Railway Parklands Priority Development Area (PDA) is a 50-hectare area that is designed to be a focus for investment, development, and regeneration in Toowoomba. It is intended to drive economic growth and job creation through an accelerated PDA process. The PDA is characterized by Toowoomba's economic history and includes several sites of local heritage significance, such as the Defiance Flour Mill and the Toowoomba Foundry site.

Key Statistics

• Total land area of PDA - 51.3 hectares
• Parkland area - 8.6 hectares
• Land for urban renewal - 25.7 hectares
• Total commercial floor space (estimated) - 43,500 square metres
• Residential unit capacity (estimated) - 2,270
• Economic benefit of PDA development - $680M and 3,000 jobs over 20 years.

The PDA is located north of Toowoomba's Central Business District, within the city center frame. It is centered around central parkland on an operational railyard site and Gowrie Creek, and is surrounded by a mixture of commercial, industrial, retail, and residential land uses. It is bounded by Mort Street to the west, Ruthven and Neil streets to the east, and extends north to Bridge Street and south to Russell Street. A map of the PDA is available for viewing. 

The PDA is a strategic area that could be developed with the idea of providing a mix of uses, which would attract a wide range of residents, visitors and businesses, this would improve the overall livability of the city and increase economic opportunities for the area.  It is designed as an active, high-quality, mixed-density urban village to reinforce and frame the Central Business District (CBD).

The PDA consists of six precincts that will create strong appeal for developers, investors, businesses, employees, residents, and visitors.

• The Mill: The historic Defiance Flour Mill, which operated from 1899 until 2011, is planned to be redeveloped into medium-density residential for retail and commercial use.
• Central: Regionally significant parkland, which will be a focus for community, recreational, and leisure activities. $10 million has recently been invested in the restoration of the 120-year-old Goods Shed into a first-class multi-purpose venue. This is part of a broader $50 million Railway Parklands component within the PDA, which will see the former railyards site transformed into an important community asset incorporating open spaces and recreation, with bridge infrastructure linking to other areas of the PDA.
• The Link: Residential, business, and retail usage that links the PDA to the CBD.
• The Gasworks: This 10,569 m² former industrial site was recently remediated and is ready for medium-density residential and commercial redevelopment. Colliers International Toowoomba is the commercial real estate agent for this site.
• The Rise: Includes properties in close proximity to the railway station and has the potential to evolve as a business, cultural, and entertainment hub.
• The Foundry: Heritage-listed building, formerly the Toowoomba Foundry and Toowoomba Metal Technologies, planned to be developed as medium-density residential, retail, and commercial, and importantly, to serve as a connection to the surrounding community.

Overall, the Toowoomba Railway Parklands PDA is a comprehensive development strategy, which will create a mix of uses and provide a wide range of opportunities for residents, visitors, and businesses, this will improve the overall liveability of the city and increase economic opportunities for the area.

SEQ Regional Plan 2009–2031

The South East Queensland Regional Plan 2017, also known as ShapingSEQ is a regional plan for South East Queensland (SEQ), Australia and includes Toowoomba Regional Council (urban extent only).

It is a long-term strategic plan that guides land use and development in the region. Developed by the Queensland Government, ShapingSEQ is intended to support sustainable growth and development while protecting the region's natural and cultural heritage. The plan includes policies and guidelines on land use, infrastructure, transport, environment, and economic development.

The plan identifies priority growth areas and development corridors, and sets targets for population growth and housing supply in the region. It also includes strategies for managing urban sprawl, protecting natural resources and biodiversity, and addressing climate change impacts.

The plan also lays out the vision for the region in 2041 which includes a liveable, sustainable and prosperous region, with a focus on protecting the environment and encouraging sustainable development, as well as improving connectivity and accessibility throughout the region. ShapingSEQ provides a regional framework for growth management and sets the planning direction for sustainable growth, global economic competitiveness and high-quality living by:

• identifying a long-term sustainable pattern of development which focuses more on growth in existing urban areas
• harnessing regional economic strengths and clusters to compete globally
• ensuring land use and infrastructure planning are integrated
• valuing and protecting the natural environment, productive land, resources, landscapes and cultural  heritage
• promoting more choice of housing and lifestyle options
• locating people and jobs closer together, and moving people and goods more efficiently and reliably
• promoting vibrant, fair, healthy and affordable living and housing to meet all of the community's needs
• valuing design and embracing the climate to create high-quality living environments
• maximising the use of existing infrastructure and planning for smarter solutions for new infrastructure
• supporting strong rural communities and economic diversification.

Suburb Summary

References

• SEQ Regional Plan 2009–2031 
• Toowoomba – City Centre Master Plan
• Toowoomba – Local Plan
• Toowoomba -  Current Zoning Map 
• Toowoomba – Railway Parklands PDA
• Toowoomba Region Growth Plan | Have Your Say
• Google Aerial