TRC seeking feedback on interim amendment to the Local Government Infrastructure Plan

Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) this month (July 19, 2022) endorsed working on an interim amendment to the Local Government Infrastructure Plan (LGIP), which deals with required local infrastructure necessary to support planned urban development.

TRC Planning and Development committee chair Cr Megan O’Hara Sullivan said public feedback on the interim amendment would open from Monday, August 1, 2022 and close on Friday, August 19.

Visit the website to have your say. https://www.tr.qld.gov.au/planning-building/planning-scheme-strategies-tools/planning-scheme-new/12767-planning-scheme-ammendments 

“The LGIP identifies trunk infrastructure (water, wastewater, stormwater, transport, public parks and community facilities) that is required to service urban development at the desired standard for future communities,” Cr O’Hara Sullivan said.

“The LGIP is Council’s financial commitment to the community and the Queensland Treasury Corporation for the sustainable provision of critical urban infrastructure to service our Region’s future urban growth.”

Cr O’Hara Sullivan said the interim LGIP amendment was part of Council’s ongoing administration of its trunk infrastructure program across multiple growth fronts.

Cr O’Hara Sullivan said the main objectives of the interim LGIP amendment included:

• Updating and adding future trunk infrastructure land and/or works to recognise new network planning undertaken since the LGIP was adopted in 2017,

• Removing works that have been completed since the LGIP’s adoption,

• Extending the planning horizon of networks from 2026 to 2031 to provide a 10-year trunk infrastructure program, and

• Updating relevant reports to incorporate and explain the proposed changes to Council’s trunk infrastructure program.

TRC Planning and Development Committee portfolio leader Cr Bill Cahill said in addition to undertaking the interim LGIP amendment in the short term, Council was also working on a comprehensive update of the LGIP as part of the preparation of a new planning scheme. This is due to be completed in 2025.

Cr Cahill said this would result in a plan to efficiently cater for the projected population and employment growth across the Region.

“The LGIP is the critical component for responsibly delivering urban development in accordance with the Toowoomba Region Planning Scheme,” Cr Cahill said.

“Without coordinated infrastructure planning and delivery we cannot have ongoing urban development.

“We know our Region will continue to grow and our planning will enable Council to estimate the cost of trunk infrastructure for which it is then able to levy infrastructure charges on development to help cover the cost of providing trunk infrastructure for new growth areas.

“Planning for infrastructure is a key part of the land use planning system across Queensland as it identifies the infrastructure required to service growth in an efficient, coordinated and financially sustainable manner. This offers certainty to communities and the development industry on the future of our Region.

“These details feed into other Council business functions such as asset management plans, capital works programs and financial plans.”

Toowoomba Regional Council was the second local authority in Queensland after Logan City to adopt a new infrastructure plan into its Planning Scheme in 2017.