TRC in view of lookout
‘Iconic’ new project gets go-ahead
THE Toowoomba Regional Council has the green light to develop a major tourism project on the region’s massive escarpment, a plan that could cost the community more than $4.4 million over three years.
Councillors voted yesterday to support the plan, which included creating an “iconic lookout” at Tobruk Dr off Picnic Point and adding more viewing opportunities connected with natural paths.
It follows confirmation from the State Government last month that the $7.1 million project, called “Destination Toowoomba: Escarpment Tourism”, could be potentially funded through the Building Our Regions fund.
Parks and recreation services manager Micheal Condren said the council would need to re-arrange its 10-year capital works program to accommodate the concept until 2021.
“One of the key areas identified through community consultation is the desire for the community to enhance lookouts at the Tobruk Dr area of Picnic Point,” he told the councillors.
“We’ve been working through those design concepts and now we’ve got the chance to deliver.”
Mayor Paul Antonio called the proposal an opportunity to enhance tourism at one of the region’s best assets.
“We don’t have a beach, but we do have an escarpment which is particularly valuable to us,” he said.
“The journey is only just beginning and I’d hope we could encourage the private sector to invest as well in it.”
While she also voted with the motion yesterday, Cr Nancy Sommerfield said the sudden need to free up capital works funding highlighted local government’s flawed funding model.
“We rely on these grants, and you can’t plan for it – suddenly you get them, then you’ve got to change the budget,” she said.
The Lockyer Valley Regional Council would also contribute about $300,000 to help seal one of its roads that leads to the escarpment.