COUNCIL’S MEETING ROOM BACKFLIP
TOOWOOMBA Regional Council has caved to community pressure over its trial reduction of operating hours at the Toowoomba City Library community meeting rooms.
The rooms will now be open after hours from Tuesday to Thursday, following feedback from community members like Compass Toastmasters Club president Graham Miller. The council trial in its original form meant the rooms would not be open after business hours on weekdays. But Mr Miller said long term, the issue was yet to be resolved, with the altered trial now extended to September 30. A decision on the rooms’ permanent operating hours is yet to be made.
THE board behind a major rugby league club in Toowoomba’s western suburbs will subdivide and sell off a chunk of its land to help secure the organisation’s future.
Brothers Rugby League Club, based at Glenholme Park on Hursley Road in Glenvale, has partnered with FKG Group to submit a development application to the Toowoomba Regional Council’s planning department.
The proposal would split the park’s land into three lots, with sections to be sold off.
FKG is working through requirements for the first of the three lots with the council regarding acceptable zoning outcomes.
Brothers had previously proposed redeveloping the Glenholme Park grounds into a community sports hub catering for multiple sports, but after failing to get the necessary grants was forced to withdraw the plan.
Board chairman Stephen Betros said the land sell-off was important to shore up the club financially.
“This portion of our grounds fronting Boundary Street is valuable land, because of its location and frontage to a relatively busy street, but it’s of no real benefit to the club as it stands,” he said.
“It’s land that the club currently does not use, nor will we use it for any football purposes in future. It’s simply vacant land that’s sitting idle.
“By rezoning and selling the land, we unlock its value and generate a financial benefit that will allow us to pay off debt and set up the club for the future.
“When the club bought back the Glenholme Park grounds several years ago we incurred a significant debt, and servicing that debt has been a constant burden.
“This proposal will help pay off that debt and put much-needed funds back into the club. It’s the best way forward for Brothers both financially and as a football club.”
Mr Betros thanked FKG Group for its support on the project.
“FKG are a very community-minded company, and they have been a fantastic support in helping us pull this project together,” he said.