Harlaxton set to grow
Housing estate a step closer to approval after responses to TRC
A MASSIVE housing estate on a 45-hectare block of land within Toowoomba’s city limits is a step closer to approval through the council. In a move that could boost Harlaxton’s population by up to 2000 people, applicant George Weston Foods submitted its response to an information request by the council.
A MASSIVE master planned housing estate could grow Toowoomba’s northern suburbs by thousands if it’s approved.
The 50-hectare community, lodged by multi-national company George Weston Foods in 2016, has finally returned a significant information request to the council after two years of delays.
The land, based between Mort and Griffiths St in Harlaxton, was previously used as part of the company’s KR small meats factory before it was demolished in 2014.
Precinct Urban Planning’s Andrew Bullen said the development would eventually see an influx of up to 2000 people over the next eight years.
“It will go out on public exhibition next week (and) that goes out for six weeks for people to look at and make submissions,” he said.
“Ideally, we’d like to get this thing through by September this year.”
Mr Bullen said the estate would feature a mix of different housing densities and styles to account for the slope of the site in places.
“It (the information request) was quite extensive, mainly design elements and layout,” he said.
“They’ve changed the open space system, so there’s a circular flow.
“The council is big on active transport, so you can get right around the site on a bike or on foot.
“It’s got some interesting sort of constraints that you wouldn’t have on other sites – each precinct has a different topology.”
An economic impact assessment from December by Economic Associates found there would be a strong need for a commercial precinct, which has been drafted in the updated plans.
It also recommended a 75place childcare centre be set up to cater for a shortfall.