Rates & spending · Toowoomba Regional Council
$145m Queensland funding reported for Toowoomba’s Southern Water Treatment Plant
Council records say the funding was secured for the Westbrook project, but the supplied record does not state the plant’s total cost or delivery timetable.
Reporting from draft minutes. Recorded wording may change when confirmed. How this article was prepared
Toowoomba Regional Council has reported securing $145 million in Queensland Government funding for the Southern Water Treatment Plant at Westbrook, a project linked in the council’s annual report to increased treatment capacity and future growth.
The funding was reported at the Audit Committee’s 2 September 2026 meeting. Chief executive Sal Petroccitto advised that the money had been secured, and the committee noted his update. The committee report appears as an attachment in the supplied meeting record.
Council’s 2025/26 Annual Report identifies the funding as an investment through the Residential Activation Fund. It says the project could help unlock up to 33,000 future homes, although the supplied record does not provide a construction or commissioning date.
Separate financial reporting lists the New Southern Water Treatment Plant with a 2026/27 budget allocation of $600,000 and $90,000 in year-to-date expenditure at 30 September. Those figures are for the current-year project program and do not establish the plant’s total cost or the value of the Queensland contribution.
The supplied public minutes are marked “UNCONFIRMED”. The supplied material records council’s reporting of the funding, rather than providing a funding agreement, payment schedule or independent verification of the project’s expected housing and water-supply outcomes.
What deserves a closer look
The record supports reporting the funding as council-reported and as described in the annual report, but the supplied material does not include a funding agreement or payment schedule.
The $600,000 allocation and $90,000 expenditure are current-year project-tracking figures, not evidence of the plant's total cost or the value of the State contribution.
The supplied passages show the Audit Committee report as an attachment, but do not show an October council resolution receiving that report or approving the $145 million.
Questions for follow-up reporting
What is the Southern Water Treatment Plant's total estimated cost, and how will it be divided among council, Queensland Government and other funding sources?
What conditions, milestones and payment schedule apply to the Residential Activation Fund contribution?
What are the expected construction and commissioning dates for the Westbrook plant?
How much additional treatment capacity is expected, and what effect does council expect the project to have on future water charges?
Check the record
These passages were matched to the source text. Read them in context in the original minutes.
The chief executive advised that $145 million in State Government funding had been secured towards the Southern Water Treatment Plant.
Southern Water Treatment Plant Funding The Chief Executive Officer advised that Council had successfully secured $145 million in State Government funding towards the Southern Water Treatment Plant project.
Audit Committee report, 2 September 2026 — Southern Water Treatment Plant Funding
Open original minutes ↗The Audit Committee noted the chief executive's update.
The Committee noted the Chief Executive Officer's Update. MATTERS CONSIDERED 6.Audit Committee Planner The report was noted by the Audit Committee. 7.Queensland Audit Office Martin Luwinga, Queensland Audit Office provided an update on recent audit activities undertaken at Toowoomba Regional Council and drew the Committee's attention to: Queensland Audit Office Briefing paper: oControlled Entity account audits currently in progress;
Audit Committee report, 2 September 2026 — conclusion of chief executive's update
Open original minutes ↗The meeting material includes an attached report of the Audit Committee meeting of 2 September 2026.
Att 2 - Report of the Audit Committee of 1 October 2026 Page 101 of 463 UNCONFIRMED Attachment 1 Report of the Audit Committee of 2 September 2026 Page 102 of 463 UNCONFIRMED Report of the Audit Committee of 2 September 2026 This report lists the matters considered at the Audit Committee of 2 September 2026 and the comments and recommendations made by the Committee.
Attachment 1 — Report of the Audit Committee of 2 September 2026
Open original minutes ↗Council secured a $145 million Queensland Government investment through the Residential Activation Fund for the Southern Water Treatment Plant at Westbrook, and the project will help unlock up to 33,000 future homes.
$145 million investment in Southern Water Treatment Plant Council secured a landmark $145 million Queensland Government investment through the Residential Activation Fund to accelerate delivery of the Southern Water Treatment Plant at Westbrook. The funding represents the largest single Council project grant received by Toowoomba Regional Council and will deliver critical water infrastructure to strengthen the network, increase treatment capacity and support Toowoomba's growth. The project will help unlock up to 33,000 future homes and create new opportunities across the Region. 2. Planning advances for Toowoomba's Olympic and Paralympic future Planning for Toowoomba's role in the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games gathered momentum, with early planning and community consultation progressing for the transformation of the Toowoomba Showgrounds into an international-standard equestrian venue.
Annual Report 2025/26, page 140
Open original minutes ↗The capital-projects report, stated in thousands of dollars and dated 30 September 2026, lists a $600,000 original budget for 2026/27 and $90,000 in year-to-date actual expenditure for the New Southern Water Treatment Plant.
12.35 13.75 14.88 0.00 2.00 4.00 6.00 8.00 10.00 12.00 14.00 16.00 JulAugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJune Unrestricted Cash Expense Cover Ratio RatioTarget > 2 monthsRates Due 9% 15% 25% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% JulAugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJune Asset Sustainability Ratio Monthly ASRCumulative ASRTarget Page 36 of 463 UNCONFIRMED Attachment 2 Capital Projects by Group Page 37 of 463 UNCONFIRMED Project Description# 2026/27 Original Budget 2026/27 YTD Original Budget 2026/27 YTD Actuals Variance Year to Date Project Complete Life to Date Project Complete $'000$'000$'000$'000 % % Corporate Services ICT Equipment Replacement End User Computing887000 6% 6% Digital Enterprise2,0000007%7% Water and Waste Services Smart Water Meter Program Region Wide1,450450512(62) 35% 95% Cressbrook Dam Safety Improvements81,4009,4229,071351 10% 27% New Southern Water Treatment Plant6001509060 5% 1% Toowoomba to Warwick4,0001,035379656 25% 62% Cooby Dam Inlet Pipe Replacement3,3801,4201,955(535) 57% 91% Toowoomba Waste Centre Vertical Expansion - 41,000645795(150) 80% 92% Environment and Community Services Toowoomba Escarpment Mountain Bike Project5,70020559146 2% 15% Southern Cross Oval Amenities Block4,39360042558 25% 38% Smithfield Park, Harristown1,9279197(6) 25% 38% Black Gully Linear Corridor1,24569212(143) 30% 40% Milne Bay Aquatic & Fitness Centre - Electrification1,2003000300 0% 15% Infrastructure Services Highfields Rd/OBrien Rd/Kratzke Rd Int6,8001,8001,599201 21% 46% Annual Regional Reseal Program4,200020(20) 0% 0% Perth Street Culvert Upgrade3,6009001,120(220) 27% 45% Clifton Pittsworth Road Link U/G3,6001,8001,72179 47% 56% Lower Order Road Upgrade Program2,00020034166 2% 2% Total of Key Capital Projects18129,38219,08717,7081,379 Total of Remainder of Program108107,08115,34424,286(8,942) Total 2026/27 Capital Works Program126236,46434,43141,994(7,563) Note: Key Priority Project as identified by respective Groups Key Capital Projects by Group as at 30 September 2026 Definition for Project % Complete: The point at which all of the work in respect to the construction of a particular component, building, phase or project is complete, apart for minor defects that can be remedied without undue interference or disturbance to an owner/ occupier/ user.
Attachment 2, Capital Projects by Group, page 37 — column headings, plant row and reporting date
Open original minutes ↗The ordinary meeting minutes are marked UNCONFIRMED.
Toowoomba Regional Council Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of Council held on Tuesday, 27 October 2026 in the Council Chambers, First Floor, City Hall, 541 Ruthven Street, Toowoomba Page 1 of 463 UNCONFIRMED Toowoomba Regional Council Ordinary Meeting of Council 27 October 2026 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.Opening of Meeting and Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners 2.Reception of Deputations or Delegations by Appointment 3.Attendance including Apologies, Leave of Absence, Granting Leaves of Absence and Declarations of Conflict of Interest 4.Confirmation of Minutes 5.Business Arising out of Minutes of Previous Meetings 6.Presentation of Petitions 7.Business
Ordinary Meeting minutes, 27 October 2026 — title page
Open original minutes ↗Source record
Reporting from supplied excerpts of the unconfirmed minutes of Toowoomba Regional Council’s Ordinary Meeting of 27 October 2026, including the attached 2025/26 Annual Report and committee records.
Key facts from the minutes
- The chief executive advised the Audit Committee on 2 September 2026 that $145 million in State Government funding had been secured towards the Southern Water Treatment Plant.
- The council’s 2025/26 Annual Report identifies the funding as a Queensland Government investment through the Residential Activation Fund for the plant at Westbrook.
- The annual report says the project could help unlock up to 33,000 future homes.
- The September capital-works report lists a $600,000 2026/27 budget for the New Southern Water Treatment Plant, with $90,000 spent by 30 September.
- The supplied minutes are marked UNCONFIRMED and do not establish a completion date or the plant’s total project cost.
Why it matters
- The reported funding is relevant to Toowoomba Region residents, developers and water-sector businesses, but the supplied record does not establish the plant’s total cost, delivery timetable or eventual effect on future water charges and housing supply.