Hub wants reimbursement

InterLinkSQ wants infrastructure ‘trunk’

THE developer of a planned $235 million rail transfer hub has put in a request with Toowoomba Regional Council that could ultimately see ratepayers foot the bill for infrastructure required for the project.

Freight Terminals Trust, the company behind master-planned logistics, warehousing and industrial estate InterLinkSQ, is asking the council to convert infrastructure including sewers, stormwater drains and roads, to trunk infrastructure.

That means the company would be liable for reimbursement from the Priority Infrastructure Plan for infrastructure it builds on site at Nass Rd, Charlton.

The council collects infrastructure charges from developers to pay for trunk infrastructure.

The application will be assessed against criteria as the council considers the request.

InterlinkSQ chief executive officer Michelle Reynolds said the development met the conditions for trunk infrastructure.

“It’s inside the priority infrastructure area and the infrastructure will not just benefit us, it benefits the entire northern side of the Toowoomba Enterprise Hub precinct.”

Expensive upgrades have been completed on the southern side of the development area including at O’Mara Rd and Ms Reynolds said the northern end had been largely ignored by the council.

She said more investment was needed, given the area would help generate employment.

“There is a significant amount of jobs that will be created by getting our precinct up and running and on the northern side of Warrego (Hwy),” Ms Reynold said.

Documents submitted to the council state: “Following approval of this application, subsequent agreements are to be reached with (the) council on the cost of these infrastructure items and the financial arrangements regarding refunds, offsets and credits to appropriately manage the provision and funding of infrastructure which performs trunk and non-trunk functions.”

The request came as the company released new video showing the project in detail not seen before.

The project is being called the “inland port of Australia” and Ms Reynolds said the new video showed it would be just that.

The project shows rows of freight containers, cranes and silos, sprawled over a vast area. Conveys of trucks are seen navigating a large road area and trains being loaded with produce.

Ms Reynolds said the project development team hoped the video would show the community the project.

“Now we have the ability to bring it out and show other people what is about to start construction.”