Council policy not yet taken up

THE Toowoomba Regional Council will vote on whether to continue with a $1m incentives scheme to encourage intensive horticultural projects in the region, despite receiving no applications for the scheme.

Councillors will be presented with the new report at Tuesday’s committee meeting on whether to renew the Temporary Economic Development Incentives for Intensive Horticulture policy until 2022.

The scheme, which was endorsed by the council in late 2019, would allow successful applicants to get a 50 per cent reduction in their infrastructure charges, up to the value of $100,000.

In his report to the councillors, TRC development engineering and infrastructure manager David Quinlan said while there had been no takeup of the policy so far, several already approved developments might consider applying.

“While the benefits of the policy have not been actively sought by industry since it was originally adopted by council, the lead time associated with such developments may mean that the full benefits of the policy can only be realised through its extension,” the report said.

“While there were no applicants who applied for the incentive during the initial two year period, there are currently three approved developments for intensive horticulture that could potentially take up the policy.”

Intensive horticulture has been frequently discussed in the council chambers, after several projects were greenlit in recent years.