North Toowoomba shopping-centre plans put on hold after applicant lodges a change The application, described in the officer report as a 4,137-square-metre centre across Isaac, Hagan and Ruthven streets, requires further assessment following an applicant change. Council: Toowoomba Regional Council Meeting: 10 November 2026 Recorded status: deferred BRIEF Consideration of a proposed North Toowoomba shopping centre, described in the officer report as 4,137 square metres, was put on hold after the applicant lodged a change requiring further assessment. The committee did not approve or refuse the application. Officers had recommended refusal over planning, zoning, need, traffic, amenity, design and street-tree concerns. KEY FACTS - The committee carried a motion not to consider MCUI/2022/5495 because the applicant had lodged a change requiring further assessment. - The proposal covers land at 6 Isaac Street, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 Hagan Street, and 145, 151, 153 and 155 Ruthven Street, North Toowoomba. - The officer report describes a 4,137-square-metre shopping centre: a 3,400-square-metre supermarket, a 300-square-metre shop, a 320-square-metre food and drink outlet and 117 square metres of shared amenities. - The officer report recommended refusal, citing out-of-centre development, zoning conflicts, lack of demonstrated need, traffic and amenity issues, stormwater, design and street-tree impacts. - The assessment said the development, including necessary road works, would require removal of 12 street trees, including eight Camphor laurels on Ruthven Street. ANALYSIS OF THE RECORD - The carried motion determined how the committee dealt with the application at this meeting; it did not approve or refuse the application. - The officer recommendation to refuse was not the carried motion. - The supplied passages do not identify the substance of the applicant's lodged change or provide a timetable for a further decision. QUESTIONS FOR FOLLOW-UP REPORTING - What change to Development Application MCUI/2022/5495 did the applicant lodge? - Would the changed application alter the proposed development's floor area, access, traffic impacts or tree removals? - When would further assessment occur, and when might the application return for a decision? - Would further public notification be required? RECORDED NEXT STEPS - The lodged change would require further assessment before the application could return for a decision; the supplied passages give no timetable. SOURCE PASSAGES A motion moved by Councillor Trevor Manteufel and seconded by Councillor Gary Gardner not to consider the matter because the applicant had lodged a change requiring further assessment was recorded as carried. "MOTION Moved by Councillor Trevor Manteufel, seconded by Councillor Gary Gardner That the matter not be considered as the applicant has lodged a change to the Development Application which requires further assessment. CARRIED Page 21 of 271 Toowoomba Regional CouncilPlanning and Development Committee 10 November 2026 CORPORATE PLAN REFERENCE 2.3Plan for and manage infrastructure assets sustainably." (Item No. 4, motion and outcome) The report concerns a shopping-centre application at 6 Isaac Street, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11 Hagan Street, and 145, 151, 153 and 155 Ruthven Street, North Toowoomba. "EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report is to consider a Development Application for Material Change of Use for Shopping Centre (Shops and Food and Drink Outlet) on land at 6 Isaac Street, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11 Hagan St and 145, 151, 153, 155 Ruthven St, North Toowoomba." (Item No. 4, executive summary) The report describes a total gross floor area of 4,137 square metres, comprising a 3,400-square-metre supermarket, a 320-square-metre food and drink outlet, a 300-square-metre shop and 117 square metres of shared amenities. "Please refer to Attachment 5. The development application seeks approval for a Shopping Centre (4,137m 2 total GFA) (please refer to Attachment 6 for plans of proposed development) comprising the following: •3,400m 2 GFA supermarket inclusive of ancillary online area of 200m 2 GFA; •Two (2) small tenancies being a Food and Drink Outlet (320m 2 GFA) and a Shop (300m 2 GFA); •Shared amenities (117m 2 GFA); •A public foyer; •10m building height above finished floor level;" (Item No. 4, proposed development components) The report recommended refusal after identifying serious planning-scheme non-compliances and finding no economic or community need or other compelling grounds to warrant the departure. "As such, there is no singular 'overriding' ground, but instead all matters for and against the development are considered and weighed in deciding the application. Page 20 of 271 Toowoomba Regional CouncilPlanning and Development Committee 10 November 2026 On balance, the assessment has determined serious non-compliances with the Planning Scheme. If approved, the development would result in a significant departure from the Planning Scheme, and would result in unacceptable impact on the community, and there is no economic or community need or other compelling grounds to warrant the departure. It is recommended that the development is refused based on the grounds in Attachment 3. RECOMMENDATION That Council refuse the Development Application MCUI/2022/5495 for a Development Permit for Material Change of Use - Impact - Shopping Centre (Shops and Food and Drink Outlet), pursuant to the provisions of Section 60 of the Planning Act 2016 based on the grounds listed in Attachment 3." (Item No. 4, assessment summary and recommendation) The assessment identified conflicts involving out-of-centre development, zoning, street trees, traffic, disability access, stormwater, amenity and design, and said economic, community and planning need had not been demonstrated. "The assessment outlined in this report notes the development conflicts with a number of benchmarks of the Planning Scheme being: •Out-of-Centre Development and the Centre Hierarchy •Inconsistency with Zoning •Loss of Street Trees and Streetscape Character •Engineering Matters - Traffic, PWD Access and Stormwater •Amenity and Design Economic need, community need and planning need is not demonstrated and, given this is an out- of-centre development, these matters are considered significant in deciding the application." (Planning report, overall assessment and recommendation) The assessment said the proposal was inconsistent with the required small scale and function of non-residential development, exceeded the allowed day-to-day convenience function for the local community, was incompatible in scale with residential character and would detrimentally affect neighbourhood amenity. "The proposed development also is inconsistent with the required small scale and function of non-residential development required under Overall Outcome (2)(p)(i) and (q) given: •The proposed full-line supermarket exceeds the function allowed (being the day to day convenience need of the local community), •The development is not of a scale compatible with residential character, and •The development detrimentally impacts neighbourhood amenity." (Planning report, Issue 2, residential zoning) The assessment said the development would compromise the long-term use of the land for industrial purposes and was inconsistent with the purposes and overall outcomes of the planning-scheme zones. "The development will compromise the long term use of the land for industrial purposes and is inconsistent with the Code Purpose. On the basis of the above, the proposed development is inconsistent with the Purpose and Overall Outcomes of the zones of the Planning Scheme." (Planning report, Issue 2, industrial zoning) The report records advice from Council's appointed economic peer reviewer that the development, if approved, would adversely affect designated and approved centres and provide no net community benefit. "Infrastructure Charges Unit Would prepare an Infrastructure Charges Notice in accordance with the current Charges Resolution where the development is approved. Economic NeedCouncil's appointed peer reviewer advised: • No economic need for the development, • The development if approved will have adverse impacts on designated centres and approved centres, and • There is no net community benefit due to the development." (Planning report, internal referrals, economic need) 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-north-toowoomba-shopping-centre-plans-p-585832797f/ 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.