Toowoomba Regional Council has given preliminary approval for a new master-planned residential community on the New England Highway at Mt Kynoch.
Approved at the Special Meeting of Council on 17 February, Planning and Development Committee Chair Cr Megan O'Hara Sullivan said this was a major development which would add to the Region's stock of approved residential lots.
"Over the past 12 months there has been significant interest in the housing market in this Region and as a local government organisation, we've been doing everything we can to cater for this increased growth," Cr O'Hara Sullivan said.
"The preliminary approval for this development alone will facilitate the development of approximately 1000 residential lots which equates to about two-three years of residential supply for the Toowoomba Region.
"In addition to the homes, the development of 147.02ha includes a new local centre, 4.4ha of public parkland as well as new road, cycle and pedestrian connections.
"This comes on the back of a number of smaller applications Council has approved recently, helping to ensure there is sufficient supply of land within the Region.
"This will also pave the way for Council to implement plans for the expansion of the Mt Kynoch Water Treatment Plant, providing much-needed water supply security for many years to come.
After receiving the development application in December 2017, Planning and Development Committee portfolio lead Cr Bill Cahill said Council had worked extensively and co-operatively with the applicant to ensure granting of the preliminary approval would provide not only new residential land for the continued growth of the Toowoomba Region, but for new infrastructure and open space for the community.
"As the site is partly outside of Council's Priority Infrastructure Area, the cost of providing parks infrastructure rests with the developer," Cr Cahill said.
"Council has imposed an extra payment condition on the preliminary approval to ensure that the provision of this new infrastructure does not come at any additional cost to the ratepayers."
Development of the site is subject to further assessment and approval of future development applications.
