Planning and Development Committee - 10 November 2026

Topics

• Council waives $57,535 SES infrastructure charge for Harristown facility
  Council approved a full waiver of the infrastructure charge for a new Queensland SES facility, despite the concession falling outside its standard policy.
  The decision supports emergency-response infrastructure while reducing Council revenue and setting a potentially significant precedent for future concession requests.
• North Toowoomba shopping-centre decision delayed after applicant changes plans
  Council did not determine a major shopping-centre application after the applicant lodged changes requiring further assessment.
  The proposal has drawn concerns about out-of-centre development, residential amenity, traffic, landscaping, street trees and whether there is sufficient community or economic need.
• Toowoomba planning scheme set for online format change
  Council backed an administrative amendment to move the Planning Scheme to the IsoPlan Professional eScheme format.
  The change is intended to improve public access and usability of planning rules, although it does not itself alter the underlying planning outcomes.

Decisions

• Planning Scheme Amendment No. 30 supported
  The committee recommended adopting Administrative Amendment No. 30 to move the Toowoomba Regional Planning Scheme to the IsoPlan Professional eScheme format, with the change proposed to take effect on 9 December 2026.
  Residents should have a more functional and user-friendly online planning scheme; the amendment changes format and presentation rather than planning outcomes.
• North Toowoomba shopping-centre application not considered
  Consideration of Development Application MCUI/2022/5495 for an impact-assessable shopping centre, including shops and a food and drink outlet, was deferred because the applicant lodged changes requiring further assessment.
  The proposal at sites around Isaac Street, Hagan Street and Ruthven Street remains unresolved. Issues identified in the assessment included centre hierarchy, residential amenity, landscaping, street trees, traffic and demonstrated planning or community need.
• Infrastructure charges waived for SES facility
  Council resolved to waive all infrastructure charges for the Queensland State Emergency Service facility approved under MCUC/2026/3278 at 489-491 South Street, Harristown, and delegated implementation to the Chief Executive Officer, including an Infrastructure Agreement.
  The waiver removes the $57,535.20 charge, subject to the arrangements required to implement the decision. The facility is intended to support emergency response, disaster preparedness and community safety.

Discussion

• Planning Scheme moved to eScheme format
  Administrative Amendment No. 30 proposes changing the format and presentation of Planning Scheme version 29 to IsoPlan Professional.
  Planning information and development rules should be easier for residents and applicants to search and use online.
• Shopping-centre proposal faces major planning concerns
  The assessment identified conflicts with the planning scheme relating to out-of-centre development, zoning, the centres hierarchy, residential interfaces, streetscape, landscaping and removal of established Ruthven Street trees. A prior refusal recommendation was overtaken by the applicant's request to change the application.
  Nearby residents may continue to face uncertainty about traffic, amenity, tree loss, noise, land-use conflict and the future of the affected sites.
• SES infrastructure-charge concession
  Council used its discretion outside the existing not-for-profit development incentive policy to waive the full infrastructure charge for the SES facility. The adopted policy does not ordinarily provide infrastructure-charge discounts for emergency services.
  The decision supports a community emergency-services facility but represents a departure from the usual policy settings and reduces charge revenue by $57,535.20 before indexation considerations.

Impacts

• Residents will gain access to a planned eScheme version of the Toowoomba Regional Planning Scheme from 9 December 2026, subject to final adoption and implementation.
• The proposed shopping-centre development in North Toowoomba has not been finally approved or refused; revised plans will require further assessment.
• Residents near Isaac Street, Hagan Street and Ruthven Street remain potentially affected by future decisions about traffic, trees, landscaping, noise, design and residential amenity.
• The new SES facility in Harristown will receive a full waiver of the $57,535.20 infrastructure charge, supporting emergency response infrastructure in the region.

Places

• Toowoomba Region (local government area)
  Area covered by the Planning Scheme and the development incentive policy.
• North Toowoomba (suburb)
  Location of the proposed shopping-centre development.
• Isaac Street (road)
  One of the streets containing land included in the shopping-centre application.
• Hagan Street (road)
  Nearby residential and development interface for the shopping-centre application.
• Ruthven Street (road)
  Site frontage affected by the shopping-centre proposal and potential street-tree changes.
• 489-491 South Street, Harristown (facility site)
  Approved location of the Queensland SES facility receiving the infrastructure-charge waiver.

Next

• Implement Administrative Amendment No. 30 and make the eScheme-format change effective if formally adopted.
  Proposed effective date: 9 December 2026.
• Undertake further assessment of the changed shopping-centre application.
  After the applicant's revised application material is lodged and assessed.
• Chief Executive Officer to implement the SES infrastructure-charge waiver and enter any required Infrastructure Agreement.
  Following the committee or Council resolution and completion of administrative requirements.

Extract

TOOWOOMBA REGIONAL COUNCIL PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT 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 271 Toowoomba Regional Council Planning and Development Committee 10 November 2026 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.Opening of Meeting and Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners 2.Attendance including Apologies, Leave of Absence and Declarations of Conflict of Interest Reports 3.Amendment No. 30 (Administrative) to the Toow...