Biggest stories of 2019
FROM fires to drought, massive developments and more - it was an eventful 2019 across the Garden City and the wider Toowoomba region.
Here are some of the biggest stories The Chronicle covered throughout a huge 12 months.
Bushfires sweep across region
THE Toowoomba, Southern Downs and Lockyer Valley regions were not spared from the bushfire crisis unfolding across the country in 2019. Major fires described at the time as “unprecedented” threatened the homes and lives of people in the Stanthorpe area back in September. In November, fast-moving fires threatened the areas of Pechey and Ravensbourne, claiming homes and burning through thousands of hectares of land. Early in December, dangerous fires swept through the areas of Forest Grove and Cypress Gardens near Millmerran.
Weis closure shocks city
UNILEVER shocked Toowoomba last month when it announced the Weis factory was set to shut its doors by the end of 2020.
More than 90 jobs will be axed when the facility is closed. The move stunned workers, politicians and even the founding family behind the iconic ice cream brand, who sold the business back in 2017 with the understanding the factory would remain open. Community calls to save the factory were loud and clear, but it appears Unilever’s decision is set in stone, with no further updates issued since.
Pipeline switched on
MORE than nine years after it was built, Toowoomba Regional Council turned on the pipeline from Wivenhoe Dam to Cressbrook Dam in April. Mayor Paul Antonio said turning on the pipeline, which was built in 2010 at a cost of $187 million, would create “stability” for the city’s water supply.
The decision came after it was revealed in February the pipeline would be switched on if dam levels dropped below 40 per cent.
Boy in wheelbarrow
THE story of young Angus Hopkins, the boy in a wheelbarrow waiting for NDIS approval on a wheelchair, captured the attention of the nation earlier this year.
The Chronicle revealed in April that Angus and his mother Jody Ezzy were told they faced a two-year wait until the new chair arrived, a situation which Ms Ezzy said would have been physically and emotionally debilitating for her son. After the matter became news across the country, the NDIS approved the chair two days later, which Angus received in July.
Second Range Crossing opens
YEARS in the making, the $1.6 billion Toowoomba Second Range Crossing finally opened to traffic in September. Now known at the Toowoomba Bypass, the enormous infrastructure project jointly funded by the State and Federal governments opened with a weekend of celebrations. It didn’t take long for the effects to be felt on James St, with heavy vehicle numbers drastically reduced on one of the city’s main thoroughfares.
Flu claims young mum
TRIBUTES and warnings flowed following the shocking death of Toowoomba mum Jacinta Foulds in August.
The 35-year-old died from complications of influenza A. Following the tragic death of the mum described as “bubbly” and “beautiful”, husband Dan encouraged people to make sure they had received their flu shot.
Jacinta’s death came just two months after it was reported there had been a 410 per cent spike in flu cases in the Darling Downs.
Carnival of Flowers’ massive milestone
IT WAS a massive milestone for the iconic Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers in 2019. Whether it was a sing-a-long with Australian legend John Farnham, seeing the eclectic floats in the Grand Central Floral Parade or checking out the stunning entries to The Chronicle Garden Competition, the event’s 70th anniversary had something for everyone. This month the council revealed more than 294,000 attended the carnival this year - making it the biggest to date.
There was more big news for the carnival back in March, when it won gold at the Australian Tourism Awards for the third year in a row.
Axe falls at New Acland
REDUNDANCIES at the New Acland Coal Mine began this year as the stage three expansion of the mine remained in limbo.
The mine’s owner, New Hope, said it needed approvals by September 1 or 150 workers would lose their jobs. Those redundancies began in the middle of September. The company still has not gained approvals from the State Government, which it has sought for 12 years.
This month, the Oakey Action Coal Alliance sought special leave to appeal to the High Court over the controversial Stage 3 expansion of the New Acland Coal mine.
The appeal relates to the September Queensland Court of Appeal decision, which dismissed both grounds of the alliance’s appeal and found a historic Land Court decision over the mine was affected by apprehended bias.
Medicinal cannabis farm near Wellcamp
PLANS for a $500m medicinal cannabis farm situated near to Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport were revealed at the start of 2019. The project is tipped to inject more than $1 billion in to the Toowoomba and Australian economies, and create more than 1000 jobs for the region. It received the green light from Toowoomba Regional Council in November, and gained licences from the Federal Office of Drug Control earlier this month.
Game-changing plan at USQ
THIS year, the University of Southern Queensland revealed a game-changing plan to encourage more students to the region.
Three new and expanded scholarships for high school leavers provided some of our smartest students with up to $29,000 worth of funding, mostly with no strings attached. Vice-Chancellor Professor Geraldine Mackenzie said the move was part of the university’s plan to attract more young people to the region and retain some of the young people who chose to leave.
$100k fine over workplace death
THE Royal Agricultural Society of Queensland was in July fined $100,000 for a Workplace Health and Safety breach which resulted in the death of a teenager on a Work for the Dole project at the Toowoomba Showgrounds.
Joshua William Park-Fing died as a result of head injuries sustained after falling from a flatbed trailer being towed by a Massey Ferguson tractor at the Glenvale showgrounds on April 19, 2016.
Cafe hit by arson attack
THE business community was shocked when popular cafe Burrow was the target of arsonists earlier this year. Fire damaged the Bridge St location as the massive Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers weekend was about to kick off in September.
But just days after the blaze, owners vowed to rebuild and have teased a January reopening on social media.
Shopping centre up for grabs
ONE of Toowoomba’ biggest and busiest shopping centres hit the market in October. Industry experts expected Clifford Gardens to fetch offers above $200 million. Valuer Herron Todd White believed interest would be strong in the property, thanks in part to record-low interest rates.
Plans to revive pub
A YOUNG Toowoomba couple revealed their plans to revive an iconic Toowoomba venue earlier this year.
Kosta and Jasmine Theodosis are busy working to renovate the Metropole Hotel, which they plan to turn into a live music venue with quality budget accommodation. The pub had previously been laying dormant for several years.
Currently no opening date has been revealed for the venue.
First students arrive at academy
THE Qantas Pilot Academy welcomed its first students at the end of September, almost a year to the day since the facility near Wellcamp Airport was announced. QantasLink Chief Executive John Gissing said the moment was an important milestone for the academy.
Defamation payout for Wagner brothers
THE Wagner brothers were last month awarded a payout of almost $3.7 million, after they won a defamation trial against Channel 9 and journalist Nicholas Cater.
The Supreme Court trial was over a 60 Minutes report in 2015 which blamed the Wagners for a quarry dam wall bursting during the 2011 floods.
New stadium for Olympics
A NEW 20,000 capacity stadium could be built at Charlton as part of Queensland’s push to host the 2032 Olympics.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced last month the state would proceed with an official bid for the Olympics to be held in Queensland in 2032.
It came after months of lobbying from the South East Queensland Council of Mayors.
Spotted Cow hits the market
THE family behind one of Toowoomba’s most beloved announced plans to say goodbye to the pub in March. The Spotted Cow owners Mick and Dianne Coorey said they had made the decision so the couple could enjoy retirement. The pub emains on the market though, after it failed to sell at auction in December.