Controversial facility heads to councillors
Council to vote on proposal today
COUNCILLORS will today decide the fate of a proposed 78-unit retirement village at the Toowoomba Golf Club that has caused unrest among neighbours.
The $30 million project will be considered at a special meeting, with the council planning officer recommending its approval.
This is despite residents sending in more than 50 submissions against the proposal, though most were declared ineligible since they were received after the notification period ended.
Neighbours criticised the village’s impact on Middle Ridge.
A CONTROVERSIAL proposal to build a 78-unit retirement village at the Toowoomba Golf Club has earned the recommendation of council officers.
The council will meet this afternoon to consider the $30 million facility by the club, as well as submissions against the project by Middle Ridge residents.
The proposal, set to front Rowbotham St, would comprise of three buildings between two and four storeys above the ground floor, as well as basement parking.
Overflow car parking and a golf buggy store would be relocated to accommodate for the development.
Residents made more than 50 submissions against the project, though most were not included in the report as they were submitted after the notification period ended.
Key issues included the project’s conflict with the planning scheme, height of the buildings, lack of buffering between neighbours, and increased traffic in a leafy suburb.
In his report to the council, TRC planning officer Krys den Hertog admitted the retirement village conflicted with certain elements of the planning scheme, but still recommended its approval.
“The development was found to conflict with parts of the planning scheme’s sport and recreation zone code; however, it is considered to be generally consistent with other relevant parts of the planning scheme, including the strategic framework,” he wrote.
“There are considered to be sufficient reasons to justify the development despite the conflict with parts of the sport and recreation zone code, and the application therefore is recommended to be approved with reasonable and relevant conditions.”
Golf club general manager Johnathon Zirkler defended the village last month, saying there would be minimal negative impacts on nearby residents.
The special meeting will be held at the council chambers at 2pm.