Traffic lights for Highfields

Traffic lights, roundabout to ease Highfields traffic congestion

TWO notorious Highfields intersections known for traffic congestion and safety concerns will be signalised as the area continues its rapid growth.

The Toowoomba Regional Council has planned for traffic lights at two major cross-sections, as well as a roundabout, to cater for the future population.

The lights will be installed in the coming decade and form part of the Highfields Master Plan which the council will adopt next month after extensive community consultation.

TWO major Highfields intersections notorious for traffic congestion and pedestrian safety concerns will be signalised as part of future planning for the growing area.

The intersections of Kratzke, Woolmer and Cawdor Rds, and Highfields, O’Brien and Kratzke Rds are proposed for major upgrades, as well as a roundabout at the corner of O’Brien and Reis Rd.

Toowoomba Regional Council’s Principal Planner Land Use and Community officer Heath Martin said the upgrades were part of a $55 million proposed infrastructure package to service the needs of the Highfields area in the coming decade.

The upgrades are part of the Highfields Master Plan which is set to be adopted by the council next month and details a full body of investment and planning to safeguard community needs in the area.

Mr Martin told the Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise’s Highfields’ growth and key infrastructure enterprise evening the master plan was developed with seven core values selected by the community.

“The first thing we did in establishing that master plan was sit down with over 200 members of the Highfields community and ask them what it was about Highfields that they valued, what was important to them, why did they choose to live in Highfields and what are the characteristics of Highfields that they want to see incorporated within this future central Highfields area,” Mr Martin said.

He said the council’s strategic land buy of 20 hectares ensured the protection of natural vegetation which was a core concern for residents.

Seven hectares of that land has been designated for future business development.

About 27,000sq m of commercial or retail floor space has been identified as needed to meet future growth demands of residents in the area where the population is tipped to grow by 7000 in the next 15 years.

About $2 million will be spent on eight existing parks in the area, $3.7 million on storm water infrastructure and $8 million on water mains.