Toowoomba CBD, Railway Parklands PDA Expert Panel tours city
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Members of Toowoomba Regional Council’s newest advisory panel last month met in the city to tour key CBD sites and discuss potential development and investment opportunities.
Nine members of the 12-member Toowoomba CBD and Railway Parklands Priority Development Area (PDA) Expert Advisory Panel, which was approved by Council in late 2020, met Councillors and Council staff before embarking on a city tour.
Toowoomba Region Mayor and Economic Development Committee chair Cr Paul Antonio said the panel members had specialist design and industry expertise which would greatly aid Council’s decision making about future development and investment across the Toowoomba CBD and Railway Parklands PDA.
“The advisory panel will enhance Council’s strategic work and design planning for future projects with additional work advising on the execution of CBD and PDA projects,” Mayor Antonio said.
“The Toowoomba CBD is a major employer, a significant contributor to the regional economy and an important regional centre for many different services, drawing customers from our Region and areas in southern Queensland and northern New South Wales.
“Council will continue to progress projects that are identified through our City Centre Master Plan to ensure the Toowoomba CBD is a thriving destination. Council continues to provide CBD investment incentives, encourages more inner city living and promotes CBD-specific business, investment and tourism opportunities.
“This year Council will prepare a new Toowoomba City Centre Action Plan 2032 that will outline priorities for the next 10 years to create a more vibrant and attractive city centre. This emphasises Council’s long-term commitment to the CBD.
“Few, if any, Australian regional centres can point to more than $850 million in private and public investment in their city centre over the past decade. Council is working to encourage new development to drive more business and development opportunities with a mix of housing options.
“There are opportunities to address challenges, including commercial property vacancies, visitation and business confidence, alongside the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our expert advisory panel members will offer specialist advice covering design, infrastructure and real estate financing and investment, ideas for built form and buildings (their design and integration to existing heritage and character buildings), environmental design principles, public realm, landscaping and public art.
“In addition, they will advise on place-based marketing, investment attraction (for increasing foot traffic and visitation strategies), plus looking at options for more inner city living.”
Mayor Antonio said the Expert Panel would operates in line with Council’s advisory committee guidelines. Its advice and recommendations will be considered through existing Council decision-making processes.
Panel members: • Kirsty Volz: Director Toussaint and Volz, lecturer in architecture QUT, Brisbane
• Liz Brogden: Lecturer in transdisciplinary design QUT, Brisbane
• Jakobus Van Der Vyver: Hatch Urban Solutions, Brisbane
• Stephen Dunn: Dunn Moran Landscape Architects, Brisbane
• Marcus Brown: CDM Smith (property and development economics), Brisbane
• Ross Elliott: APP Property and Infrastructure, Brisbane
• Jennifer Roughan: Rough Plan (strategic and land use planning), Brisbane
• Phillip Roth: Development Victoria (strategic planning, urban design, precinct and property development), Melbourne
• Anthony Ellis: Owner/director METrenew (urban and community renewal, precinct delivery), Sydney
• John Byrne: Byrne Urban Design (urban designer, urban housing and renewal), Brisbane
• Cathryn Chatburn: Director Urban Enquiry (master planning, urban design), Brisbane
• Michael Stott: Urbis (urban designer, place maker, strategic planner), Brisbane
Background: The Toowoomba City Centre Master Plan (TCCMP) was adopted by Council in May 2010 and included recommendations to establish governance arrangements to oversee the implementation process.
The Railway Parklands PDA was declared by regulation on December 12, 2014.
The PDA Development Scheme was adopted by Council in December 2015. The PDA, incorporating areas of industrial heritage, has attracted some investment. It requires a more collaborative approach by Council, the Queensland Government and the private sector to reach its potential.
The Toowoomba CBD and Railway Parklands PDA is the area covered by the TCCMP.
The area is framed from the Toowoomba Hospital to Bridge Street and from West Street to Hume Street. The Railway Parklands PDA covers a geographic area from Russell Street to Bridge Street and Mort Street to Ruthven/Ann Street. It is located within and is part of the TCCMP area.