‘Estate complies with the scheme’
Decision day for 40-lot project
A COUNCIL officer has recommended a controversial 40lot townhouse development in Prince Henry Heights be approved because it complies with all the provisions of the planning scheme.
Despite the recommendation, councillors will decide the fate of the proposal from Toowoomba-based company Shangri-La International Holdings at a special meeting of council at 2pm today in the Toowoomba Regional Council chambers.
Residents vowed in January to fight the proposal for a gated community in the escarpment suburb.
According to a report prepared for the meeting, the council received 73 objections to the proposed development.
The key issues identified by those objecting to the development were around increased bushfire risk, insufficient existing infrastructure, slope stability concerns, noise and visual amenity impacts, reduction in land values, impact on the environment, and concerns around “high density” development.
Despite the number of objections, the council officer said after “a detailed assessment of the proposal against the applicable codes, it is considered that the proposal complies with the assessment benchmarks of the Toowoomba Regional Planning Scheme 2012”.
“The development application is therefore recommended for approval.”
Those opposed have no grounds for appeal as the development is code assessable.