Harristown SES facility faces proposed $57,535 infrastructure-charge waiver

Toowoomba’s Planning and Development Committee has recommended waiving the full charge for the approved facility at 489 - 491 South Street; the supplied record does not show a final Council decision.

Council: Toowoomba Regional Council

Meeting: 10 November 2026

Recorded status: proposed


BRIEF

Toowoomba’s Planning and Development Committee recommended waiving the $57,535.20 infrastructure charge for the approved Queensland SES facility at 489 - 491 South Street, Harristown. The proposed waiver falls outside the council’s usual infrastructure-charge policy settings and would require a Council determination and, if approved, an Infrastructure Agreement.


KEY FACTS

- The Planning and Development Committee recommended waiving all infrastructure charges for the SES facility at 489 - 491 South Street, Harristown.

- The infrastructure charge was $57,535.20, subject to indexation, under Charges Resolution No. 7.

- The committee recommended that Council delegate implementation to the chief executive officer, including an Infrastructure Agreement.

- Emergency services are not eligible for infrastructure-charge discounts under Council’s current not-for-profit community uses policy.

- The supplied minutes do not show a final Council decision or establish a facility completion date.


ANALYSIS OF THE RECORD

- The supplied record does not establish whether Council will adopt the committee's recommended waiver or what terms would govern its implementation.

- The proposed concession would be outside the current policy framework and could reduce charge revenue by up to $57,535.20 plus indexation.


QUESTIONS FOR FOLLOW-UP REPORTING

- When would Council determine the committee's recommendation?

- What terms would apply under any Infrastructure Agreement?

- What is the expected opening timetable for the Harristown facility?

- Would indexation alter the charge before any agreement is completed if a concession is approved?


RECORDED NEXT STEPS

- A Council determination would be needed to approve the proposed infrastructure-charge concession.

- If Council approves a concession and the proposed delegation, the chief executive officer would take the necessary implementation steps, including entering an Infrastructure Agreement.


SOURCE PASSAGES

The committee recommended that Council waive all infrastructure charges and delegate implementation to the chief executive officer, including entering an Infrastructure Agreement.
"COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION That Council: 1. Approve a waiver of all infrastructure charges; and 2. Delegate to the Chief Executive Officer to take actions as necessary to give effect to the decision of Council, including the entering into of an Infrastructure Agreement to apply any infrastructure charges concession." (Item 5, Committee Recommendation)

An emergency-services development permit, MCUC/2026/3278, was issued for 489–491 South Street, Harristown. The proposed SES facility's infrastructure charge was $57,535.20 under Charges Resolution No. 7, subject to indexation.
"BACKGROUND A development permit for a Material Change of Use - Emergency Services (MCUC/2026/3278) was issued on 17 July 2026, over 489-491 South Street, Harristown, described as Lot 14 on GTP104958. The development is for a proposed Queensland State Emergency Services (SES) facility, with a copy of the approved plans of development available in Attachment 3. Council issued an Infrastructure Charges Notice for the development on 3 September 2026, under Charges Resolution No. 7. A copy of the Infrastructure Charges Notice is contained in Attachment 4. This notice levies an infrastructure charge of $57,535.20 for the proposed use, subject to indexation." (Item 5, Background)

The policy provides emergency services with a development-application fee discount but no infrastructure-charge discount. It provides a 75 per cent infrastructure-charge discount, capped at $250,000, for public benevolent institutions, health promotion charities and community-based organisations, but not where discounts have been applied to application fees.
"Under Section 4.2 of the Policy, a 100% discount of the development application fee up to $20,000 is applicable for Emergency Services. No infrastructure charges discounts are supported under the policy. A 75% discount up to $250,000 is applicable for infrastructure charges for Public Benevolent Institutions (PBIs), Health Promotion Charities (HPCs) and community-based organisations, but not for Emergency Services, and not where discounts have been applied to application fees." (Item 5, Background)

The report provided three options: decline the request, approve a 75 per cent concession, or waive all infrastructure charges.
"RECOMMENDATION That Council considers the request for an infrastructure charge concession for the proposed Emergency Services (SES facility) development MCUC/2026/3278 and resolves to: 1. Decline the request as ineligible for incentives; or 2. Approve an infrastructure charge concession of 75% consistent with the discounts offered to Public Benevolent Institutions (PBIs), Health Promotion Charities (HPCs) and community based organisations under 2.44 – Development Incentive – Not-for-Profit Community Uses Policy; or 3. Approve a waiver of all infrastructure charges; and 4. Delegate to the Chief Executive Officer to take actions as necessary to give effect to the decision of Council, including the entering into of an Infrastructure Agreement to apply any infrastructure charges concessions." (Item 5, Recommendation)

The request required a Council determination because it sought assistance outside the adopted Development Incentive – Not-for-Profit Community Uses Policy.
"REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION The request seeks assistance outside Council's adopted 2.44 - Development Incentive - Not-for-Profit Community Uses Policy (Attachment 2) and therefore requires determination by Council." (Item 5, Reasons for Recommendation)

Officers had not independently verified the applicant's claim that infrastructure charges had affected project viability and that the development might not proceed without Council assistance.
"Page 242 of 271 Toowoomba Regional CouncilPlanning and Development Committee 10 November 2026 •Project Delivery Risk - The applicant has advised that infrastructure charges have affected project viability and that the proposed development may not proceed without Council assistance. Officers have not independently verified this claim; however, should the project not proceed, the anticipated public benefits associated with the development may not be realised. LEGAL ISSUES The current Policy does not provide infrastructure charges discounts for Emergency Services." (Item 5, Project Delivery Risk)

If Council approves an incentive, appropriate legal documentation, including an Infrastructure Agreement, would be required.
"Should Council determine to approve an incentive, appropriate legal documentation, including the drafting of an Infrastructure Agreement, would be required through Council's standard process." (Item 5, Legal Issues)

If Council approves the request, infrastructure-charge revenue of up to $57,535.20 plus indexation may not be realised.
"DELEGATION This matter requires determination by Council as it sits outside of the current policy framework and delegations to Council Officers. FINANCIAL/RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS Should Council determine to approve the request, infrastructure charge revenue of up to $57,535.20 plus indexation may not be realised." (Item 5, Financial/Resource Implications)


SOURCES

https://toowoomba.civicclerk.com.au/web/UserControls/DocPreview.aspx?m=1&aoid=1663&token=9b8ff60d-d760-4fef-a415-5f0989743a83

https://minutesradar.com/news/toowoomba-civicclerk-planning-and-development-committee-10-november-2026-10-11-2026-9-00-am-minutes-harristown-ses-facility-faces-proposed-eb1a410ef2/


Prepared from public council minutes using automated drafting and checks. No meeting attendance or interviews are implied. Check the original record and seek comment before republishing claims or analysis. Illustrations are generic, not depictions of actual projects.