Wagner waiting for charges reduction

TOOWOOMBA property developer Kenneth Wagner will learn today whether his proposed 102-room hotel in the middle of the CBD will be viable.

The Toowoomba Regional Council will vote on whether to grant Mr Wagner a significant reduction in his infrastructure charges for the massive project on Ruthven St, in line with a pre-existing incentive scheme designed to attract people to the CBD.

Mr Wagner said his hotel was the first to qualify for the scheme, and said it would act as a rebate for a significant costs his company has had to wear to satisfy certain TRC conditions.

“When we went for this project, we have changed our design multiple times and put quite a bit of work to satisfy the council,” he said.

“For example, council wanted certain things with our Kwong Sang Walk, they wanted an extra 60 car parks and the total cost of satisfying council conditions will total $3 million.

“We’re applying for a maximum under the scheme that is allowed.”

Mr Wagner scored a win last month when the councillors unanimously approved an amended plan for the Glad on Ruthven St, fixing issues relating to parking and access onto the neighbouring Kwong Sang Walk.

“It’s certainly a step forward to have a negotiated decision notice and unanimous support for it, (so) it’s a good result for us,” he said at the time.

The hotel would create more than 100 jobs during construction and another 50 when it was in operation.

It will replace the historic Gladstone Hotel, which was demolished late last year.

The committee meeting starts from 9am in the council chambers.