Building Our Future – the next 15 years of development
Our Council is reviewing the Toowoomba Regional Council Planning Scheme so that we have a planning tool that helps guide development to meet our growing needs.
Our region is transforming. Investment in infrastructure is booming and new technologies are changing the way we connect, live and do business. The need to accommodate a growing population, without diminishing productive farmland and the environment, is driving a shift to higher density housing. Increasingly frequent extreme climate events are also driving us to adapt in many ways.
Building Our Future is about our approach to the next 15 years of development in our region. We are focused on planning for sustainable rural communities and understanding regional identities and values. We are reviewing the priorities and intentions of our Regional Planning Scheme, including the policy framework, zoning and overall workability.
To find out more about Building Our Future, please download our brochure or download the Frequently Asked Questions.
You can also find out more information about the Five Themes identified in planning for the future of our Region by downloading the Planning Scheme Review Community Discussion Booklet (which is also in the Document Library on the right side of this page).
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Regional workshops
Be part of the discussion to shape positive development solutions to build our future by attending workshops around the region from March to June 2019. Check out workshops happening in your area. Workshops in each location are being held as two sessions over separate weekends. Residents are encouraged to attend both sessions. Register online now or call 131 872. Catering provided.
Workshop Outline
Day 1
12.45pm – 1pm - Registration open
1pm – 1.10pm – Introduction and context setting
1.10pm – 2pm – Identity and values of region
2pm – 2.15pm – Break
2.15pm – 3.25pm – Policy Framework (Theme 1 – Planning for Infrastructure and Theme 2 – Planning for Liveable Communities and Housing)
3.25pm – 3.55pm – Zone Calibration
3.55pm – 4pm – Close
Day 2
12.45pm – 1pm - Registration open
1pm – 1.10pm – Introduction and context setting
1.10pm – 1.40pm – Policy Framework (Theme 3 – Planning for Economic Growth, Theme 4 – Planning for Environment and Heritage and Theme 5 – Planning for Safety and Resilience to Hazards)
1.40pm – 2.10pm Marketplace activity
2.10pm – 2.25pm – Break
2.25pm – 3pm – Marketplace activity continued
3pm – 3.55pm – Identity and values of region
3.55pm – 4pm – Close
| Regional workshops | When | Time |
| Pittsworth Function Centre | 16 March 2019 23 March 2019 | 1pm-4pm 1pm-4pm |
| Yarraman Community Hall | 23 March 2019 6 April 2019 | 1pm-4pm 1pm-4pm |
| Goombungee Public Hall | 6 April 2019 13 April 2019 | 1pm-4pm 1pm-4pm |
| Toowoomba City Library | 6 April 2019 13 April 2019 | 1pm-4pm 1pm-4pm |
| Oakey Community Centre | 11 May 2019 25 May 2019 | 1pm-4pm 1pm-4pm |
| Millmerran Community and Cultural Centre | 11 May 2019 25 May 2019 | 1pm-4pm 1pm-4pm |
| Greenmount Hall | 11 May 2019 25 May 2019 | 1pm-4pm 1pm-4pm |
| Crows Nest Community and RSL Centre | 18 May 2019 1 June 2019 | 1pm-4pm 1pm-4pm |
| Clifton Community Centre | 18 May 2019 1 June 2019 | 1pm-4pm 1pm-4pm |
| Highfields Cultural Centre | 1 June 2019 8 June 2019 | 1pm-4pm 1pm-4pm |
| Wyreema/Cambooya workshop, Cambooya Public Hall | 1 June 2019 8 June 2019 | 1pm-4pm 1pm-4pm |
Provide feedback online
The Planning Scheme Review Community Discussion Booklet includes information on five broad themes: planning for liveable communities and housing; planning for infrastructure; planning for economic growth; planning for environment and heritage; and planning for safety and resilience to hazards.
Share your thoughts and ideas on each theme by completing our quick online surveys.
Planning for liveable communities and housing survey. What does a liveable community mean to you? Is it about a mixture of housing types and land sizes and does your local neighbourhood meet this?
Planning for infrastructure survey. We know water infrastructure is a key consideration for our region at the moment especially as we grow over the next 15 years. What other infrastructure needs to be considered by the planning scheme?
Planning for economic growth survey. The region is seeing a lot of economic growth with big projects like the Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport, Second Range Crossing and Inland Rail. What could the planning scheme do to support development opportunities from these projects?
Planning for environment and heritage. We know that the Toowoomba region has natural and built environments that have national, state and local environmental and cultural significance.
Planning for safety and resilience to hazards. Natural hazards are getting more extreme and we want to know your thoughts on how the Planning Scheme could respond to these over the next 15 year period.
You can also share what you love about where you live through our Ideas tool.
Digital Maps - Zone Calibration Feedback
Use this exciting tool to comment on the Planning Scheme’s Planning Areas. With a simple click and comment box you can:
Tell us what planning areas should remain as they are and why?
Suggest what planning areas should change and why?
Tell us about concerns and trending issues that need to be addressed by the Planning Scheme for the future.
So get started now by clicking this link to go to our digital mapping tool: https://engagementplus.mysocialpinpoint.com.au/building_our_future
Further information
To find out more about the Toowoomba Regional Council Planning Scheme Review please email yoursay@tr.qld.gov.au or call 131 872.
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View All Ideas2 months ago
Waste management
1. Incorporate organic waste in green bins and promote community composting. Sell the compost to reduce the financial burden on rate payers. 2. Promote Toowoomba as a centre for recycling and encourage more companies in the industry to get established here. 3. Build roads with recycled products incorporated. 4. Build playgrounds out of recycled materials. 5. Be transparent about how effectively we recycle and where our recycling goes.
about 1 month ago
Build an eco recycling plant to deal with Toowoomba region waste and create jobs.
Recycling plant for Toowoomba
about 1 month ago
Create a network of walking trails similar to the UK's footpath network to boost our rural economy and help tackle obesity.
In the UK, rights of way exist across private land. People using the network are required to stick to designated paths and landowners are required to maintain access and ensure that dangerous livestock are kept away from the paths. The crucial difference between this and the current walking trails is that it encourages multi-day walks where walkers stay in B&Bs or lightweight hiking tents (which is a direct income stream for landowners). Bringing people onto farmland will allow city-dwellers to see the effects of the drought first-hand. Allowing farmers to run B&Bs will allow them to talk with urbanites who currently have little exposure to working farms, building compassion and understanding. Youth organisations such as the Scouts use the UK's networks extensively. This encourages respect for the countryside and helps develop independence. It allows the public to access ancient sites, and could also help Australians to connect with our indigenous history. To reduce the risk of mis-use I would require that people using the network register and be required to complete a short e-learning course explaining their obligations. Landowners would be provided with tools and processes to report mis-use. Registration would be online or at a kiosk at Wellcamp airport.
about 1 month ago
Quietways
To encourage people to swap short car trips for cycling, create a network of quietways. These are "shared zones" which lower speed limits to 30km/h on a network of residential roads and provide a cheap, safe way of getting across town without having to dice with traffic on James, Ruthven, West and other busy streets. I have created a map which shows how such a network could work. This example links the 4 high schools to the CBD and library. https://www.google.com.au/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1bmakqo6vkzma6K_k7Xs1ODr9MxXiG8DI&ll=-27.557822639579626%2C151.94504695&z=14 Modest traffic calming measures will discourage motorists from using these roads without disrupting traffic along major roads.
3 months ago
Parks and play areas
Improve parks and play areas for kids. Our grandkids, 10 and 8, loved the twirly frames at Queens Park, but now they are gone and they don't like the height of the new climbing frame. Also there is not much that is exciting or innovative round Highfields. If we want to attract tourists, we need to entertain the kids.
Who's listening
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Phone 131 872 Email yoursay@tr.qld.gov.au
