SEQ City Deal invests in Toowoomba’s tourism, liveability and affordability

More than $38.48 million of funding will kickstart priority affordability, tourism and liveability projects across Toowoomba, plus the Region will have access to more than $400 million in regional funding pools through the SEQ City Deal announced on Monday 21 March 2022.

The SEQ City Deal is a 20-year partnership between the Australian Government, Queensland Government and 11 Councils which make up the Council of Mayors (SEQ) which provides a shared commitment to transform SEQ and deliver region-shaping infrastructure. It will deliver a significant foundation investment of more than $1.8 billion that will generate thousands of local jobs, boost digital and transport connectivity, enhance liveability and support one of the fastest growing regions in the country.

Toowoomba Regional Council Mayor Paul Antonio said the Deal’s investment highlighted the important role Toowoomba and the south-east would play in the future prosperity of Queensland and Australia.

“Enhancing our Region’s liveability is also a Deal priority with a $13.48 million investment for community infrastructure that could include sporting facilities that will help provide our region’s youngest residents a running start to 2032," he said.

“The SEQ City Deal will invest $25 million towards the regeneration of the Toowoomba Railway Parklands Priority Development Area to increase housing availability ensuring our Region remains a great place to live, work and play for current and future residents.

“Additionally the Queensland Government will invest $40 million towards the WellCamp Entertainment Precinct, which will help to deliver a motorsport and entertainment precinct near Toowoomba supporting tourism for our Region.”

The Mayor said the Region would also benefit from more than $400 million in funding aimed at creating new jobs, supporting emerging industries, enhancing local environment and boosting innovation and connectivity across the South East.

“We know growth is a huge issue and the Deal will invest $5 million to jointly identify the infrastructure and land use planning needed to keep pace with our extraordinary population growth. This will enable better investment by all tiers of government and industry towards things like transport and services,” he said.

“The Deal includes $2.1 million to improve transport and freight route planning and to identify priorities for infrastructure investment to improve service reliability and safety along critical routes.

“It also includes more than $105 million to improve the Region’s waste infrastructure, building on the Council of Mayors (SEQ) Waste Management Plan and furthering the south-east’s transformation towards a cleaner, more sustainable region.

“Our local rivers, waterways and bay will also receive a needed boost with an additional $40 million over the next five years towards delivering priority, on-ground works to improve their overall health and resilience through the Council of Mayors (SEQ) Resilient Rivers Initiative.”

Council of Mayors (SEQ) Chair and Lord Mayor of Brisbane Adrian Schrinner said the deal was a critical step towards ensuring the south-east corner can cater for a booming population and is ready when the world’s biggest sporting event arrives in just over a decades’ time.

“This deal demonstrates what great things can be achieved when all levels of government work together,” Cr Schrinner said.

“There might not have been a time in our region’s history when such co-operation has been so critically important. SEQ is experiencing significant population growth as more and more Australians discover our unmatched lifestyle and want to call our region home.

“We’re also a decade away from the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games which presents a unique chance to showcase our region to the world while establishing a legacy that can continue to deliver for the generations to come.

“This City Deal puts us on a path to manage population growth, deliver the best-ever Games and, importantly, improve the lives of all of our residents through ongoing co-operation.

“We look forward to continuing to work closely with industry and the other levels of government to empower the SEQ City Deal to deliver the needs of our rapidly growing region.”

City Deals are an approach to bring together the three levels of government, the community and the private sector. This partnership focuses on aligning planning, investment and governance to accelerate growth and job creation, stimulate urban renewal and drive economic reforms to secure the future prosperity and liveability of our region.

For more information on the SEQ City Deal visit www.seqmayors.qld.gov.au