Highfields residents reject shopping plan
A NEW shopping precinct is planned for Highfields and residents have taken to social media to share their thoughts.
Developer SHA Premier Constructions is planning to transform an empty block at Highfields into a shopping precinct complete with a fast food and convenience store, six shops and a petrol station.
If approved, the precinct will be directly across from the town’s largest shopping centre, Highfields Village, which includes a Woolworths and McDonald’s.
The township is undergoing dramatic growth with construction set to start on a gated residential complex, Highfields Mews and a 524 housing lot, Avenues of Highfields.
Despite the increase in residential development some Highfields residents don’t think it’s a good idea for the shopping precinct to go ahead.
Residents shared their thoughts on the Facebook pages Highfields Buy, Sell, Swap, Giveaways and Highfields, Meringandan Community Page.
Analeise Chummy said: “Shops can’t even stay open along the highway for more then a few months. No one would rent any space. If people out here don’t support the current shops then why would they support a new development?”
Gemma Grams said: “We don’t need more shops just yet but we need more playgrounds for children. There is only a couple here and one of those is near the highway.”
Jude Burke said: “This will only increase traffic flow on Highfields Rd, so what will be done for the Kratzke and Kuhls Rds intersections?”
Kaela Austin said: “I don’t think we need another service station but one that stays open 24 hours would be nice. People working nights and early mornings have to get fuel in town.”
An online poll conducted by The Chronicle showed about 55% of residents didn’t want the shopping precinct to go ahead, while the other 45% said it was a good idea.
The proposal comes after a controversial service station at Cawdor Rd in Highfields was approved despite strong opposition from the community.
Opponents to the project had packed the gallery at City Hall in September last year and cheered when Toowoomba Regional councillors rejected the proposal.
Developer Bluepoint Property Pty Ltd later won approval in the Planning and Environment Court.