Sports precinct designation backed for Charlton site

A key planning step for the Toowoomba Regional Sports Precinct at Charlton has been approved, with Toowoomba Regional Council moving to adopt a local government infrastructure designation for the site.

At its 14 April Planning and Development Committee meeting, councillors recommended making and adopting Local Government Infrastructure Designation 01/2026 for the precinct under sections 37 and 38 of the Planning Act 2016. The council decision recorded on 21 April adopted that recommendation, subject to requirements contained in the designation assessment material.

The designation applies to the proposed sports precinct land at 10648 Toowoomba Connection Road, 85 Gowrie Junction Road and land at Warrego Highway, Charlton. The committee report said the precinct is intended to accommodate multiple sporting codes and levels of participation, with shared amenities, internal roads and transport infrastructure, parking, open space and operational facilities delivered in stages.

For residents, the planning effect is that future development consistent with the designation would not require development approval under local planning instruments, although other approvals and legal obligations would still apply. The report said the project responds to an identified shortfall in regional sporting facilities and is intended to serve the Toowoomba region over the long term.

The minutes also show not all land needed for the full precinct has been secured. Council had previously authorised property acquisition negotiations and, if required, the use of powers under the Acquisition of Land Act 1967 for compulsory acquisition. The designation site includes a mix of council-owned and privately owned parcels.

Public consultation on the designation ran from 25 August 2022 to 21 September 2022 through public notices, on-site signage, council channels and stakeholder notices. The report states one properly made submission was received, opposing the development in its form at that time.

Environmental and site requirements listed in the report include retaining significant habitat trees where possible, keeping the northern waterway corridor, carrying out further ecological field assessments in the northern part of the site before works there, and following geotechnical recommendations. The report also identifies recycled water from the Wetalla Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant as the proposed irrigation source, subject to legislative requirements.

The 21 April council vote was carried, with nine councillors recorded in favour and Councillor Melissa Taylor against. Further ecological assessment, land acquisition work and detailed design and servicing planning are listed as the next steps before later stages of delivery.