Environment and Community Committee - 14 July 2026

Topics

• Oakey park set to be renamed Geoff Dickins Park
  Council supports renaming Oakey’s Cory Street Park as Geoff Dickins Park after community consultation, with five signs to be replaced.
  Residents will see a change to a local park’s name and signage, recognising Geoff Dickins’s contribution to the Oakey community.
• Council moves to negotiate new Toowoomba City Aerodrome ground leases
  Council authorises negotiations with preferred operators for ground leases at Toowoomba City Aerodrome following tender TR000532.
  The negotiations could shape future commercial activity and use of aerodrome sites, although lease details remain confidential.
• Civic administration building project moves to scope and design assessment
  Council endorses a building location and orders further work to define the scope, service needs and cost of the Civic Administration Building project.
  The next report is intended to clarify the building’s requirements and likely cost, informing future public decisions and spending.

Decisions

• Oakey park renamed in honour of Geoff Dickins
  Resolve to rename Cory Street Park as Geoff Dickins Park and install suitable park-naming signage.
  The local park’s official name will change, subject to the relevant Council resolution process and implementation of signage.
• Aerodrome ground lease negotiations authorised
  Proceed to negotiate lease agreements with preferred external operators for sites listed in tender TR000532 and authorise the Chief Executive Officer to finalise and issue the leases.
  Future use and commercial operations at Toowoomba City Aerodrome may be affected by the negotiated leases.
• Further Civic Administration Building planning approved
  Endorse the building location for the Civic Administration Building project and procure further functional and design-development work to refine the project scope and cost estimate.
  The project advances to a stage intended to provide clearer information about service needs, design requirements and cost.
• Art gallery rectification decision deferred
  Lay the Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery Building Rectification matter on the table until the Ordinary Meeting of 21 July 2026.
  No final public decision on the rectification matter was made at this meeting.

Discussion

• Oakey park renaming
  A proposal to rename Cory Street Park in Oakey as Geoff Dickins Park received support after community consultation. Five existing signs would be reskinned at an estimated cost of approximately $2,500, funded from annual operational allocations.
  Oakey residents will receive a renamed local park and updated signage without a separately identified new funding allocation.
• Toowoomba City Aerodrome ground leases
  Council authorised negotiations with preferred external operators for Toowoomba City Aerodrome ground leases under tender TR000532. Councillors Gary Gardner and Rebecca Vonhoff did not vote on the resolution because of declared conflicts of interest.
  The leases may affect future aerodrome operations and commercial activity, but commercial terms were considered confidential.
• Civic Administration Building project
  Council endorsed the building location for the Civic Administration Building project and supported procurement of a Functional Brief and Design Development Report to refine the scope, service requirements and project cost estimate.
  The project remains in further assessment, with its requirements and cost still to be refined.
• Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery rectification
  The Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery Building Rectification matter was considered confidentially and was laid on the table for the Ordinary Meeting of 21 July 2026.
  A further decision on rectification works and related budget or commercial matters is expected at the next ordinary meeting.

Impacts

• Cory Street Park in Oakey is proposed to become Geoff Dickins Park, with five signs to be updated at an estimated cost of approximately $2,500 from existing operational budgets.
• Confidential ground lease negotiations may influence future commercial activity at Toowoomba City Aerodrome.
• Further design and functional assessment will clarify the Civic Administration Building project’s scope and cost.
• The Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery rectification matter remains unresolved until the 21 July 2026 ordinary meeting.

Places

• Cory Street Park, Oakey (park)
  Existing park proposed to be renamed and signage updated
• Geoff Dickins Park (park)
  Proposed new name for Cory Street Park
• Toowoomba City Aerodrome (aerodrome)
  Ground lease tender negotiations authorised
• Toowoomba Civic Administration Building project area (civic infrastructure)
  Location endorsed for a future civic administration building
• Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery (art gallery)
  Building rectification matter considered confidentially and deferred

Next

• Replace or reskin the five Cory Street Park signs and update associated records, including the Register of Dog Off Leash Areas.
  Following implementation of the park renaming; estimated signage cost is approximately $2,500.
• Negotiate and finalise ground leases with preferred operators for Toowoomba City Aerodrome sites under tender TR000532.
  Following the 14 July 2026 resolution; the Chief Executive Officer is authorised to issue the leases.
• Procure the Functional Brief and Design Development Report for the Civic Administration Building project.
  Next project stage; timing not otherwise specified.
• Reconsider the Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery Building Rectification matter.
  Ordinary Meeting of 21 July 2026.

Extract

TOOWOOMBA REGIONAL COUNCIL ENVIRONMENT AND COMMUNITY COMMITTEE Members of the Committee Councillor Bill Cahill Councillor Edwina Farquhar Councillor Gary Gardner Councillor Trevor Manteufel His Worship the Mayor, Councillor Geoff McDonald Councillor Tim McMahon Councillor James O'Shea Councillor Kerry Shine Councillor Carol Taylor Councillor Melissa Taylor Councillor Rebecca Vonhoff of 34 Toowoomba Regional Council Environment and Community Committee 14 July 2026 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.Opening of Meeting 2.Attendance including Apologies, Leave of Absence and Declarations of Conflict of Interest Reports 3.Park Naming Request - Oakey Confidential Reports 4.Closing of the Meeting to the Public to...