DHA DITCHES MT LOFTY PLAN

McVeigh urges land to be donated to council

THE Defence Housing Australia development in Mount Lofty is no more.

The Federal Governmentowned company will withdraw its development application with the council for a 342-lot subdivision on the edge of the Toowoomba escarpment.

Groom MP John McVeigh, who has questioned the appropriateness of the project since the land was transferred to DHA in 2016, gave the news to The Chronicle.

The news is a massive win for thousands of residents who opposed the development based on its potential threat to koala habitats and impacts on traffic and stormwater.

“To date, I have respected the fact that DHA as an independent authority has the right to submit development applications, and that in this case TRC has the sole decision-making authority,” Mr McVeigh said.

“However, it has become clear to me in recent months that DHA, under their new managing director, has been reviewing its business model.”

DHA could still plan something else for the land, but Mr McVeigh said he would like to see a large chunk of the land transferred to the council.

“The majority of that land should end up in the hands of council, and then it will be up to council, the stakeholders and the community as to what we do with it,” he said.

New DHA managing director Barry Jackson is believed to be reviewing the company’s entire structure, as well as key projects.

A MASSIVE and polarising 342-lot subdivision planned for the edge of the Toowoomba escarpment in Mount Lofty has been scrapped by Defence Housing Australia.

In a big win for local residents, Groom MP John McVeigh revealed the organisation would pull its development application lodged with the Toowoomba Regional Council.

It brings to an end more than four years of uncertainty for the community, which fought the subdivision’s approval on Rifle Range Rd through grassroots political action.

Dr McVeigh, who held reservations about the appropriateness of the project since the 379 hectares of escarpment land was transferred from the Department of Defence in 2016, said he had urged new DHA managing director Barry Jackson to reconsider the plan.

“I reached out to Barry and he made his first visit to Toowoomba in January,” he told The Chronicle.

“The meeting I convened with him and the council resulted in me saying to them to discuss all options.

“Mr Jackson has been reviewing the DHA proposal, and I saw it as an opportunity.

“Roughly six weeks later, he has said they will look at all options, (and) the big plan they had they are not proceeding with.”

DHA, an independent organisation owned by the Federal Government to provide housing to the families of defence personnel, faced significant backlash from residents over the potential loss of koala habitat, traffic issues and stormwater.

Mr McVeigh said DHA might do something else with the land, but felt most of it should be transferred to the council.

“I appreciate it’s an iconic block of land, and just as we missed the opportunity when it was first transferred to DHA, I don’t want to miss this opportunity,” he said.

“The majority of that land should end up in the hands of council, and then it will be up to council, the stakeholders and the community as to what we do with it.”

The development process had been mired with delays since it was officially lodged with the council in mid-2018.

DHA later paused the application process to gather more information, after council officers raised several issues with the project.

Residents put up signs, organised meetings and took to social media to pressure politicians and DHA to stop the development.

Mr McVeigh said residents should be congratulated for their efforts.

“Good on them — with the mounting concern (from residents), we’ve been able to harness that,” he said.