Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) has taken a significant step towards delivering a new Toowoomba Region Planning Scheme.
At the Planning and Development Committee Meeting earlier today, Councillors recommended a coordinated delivery and resource strategy that will guide sustainable growth and development across the Region for decades to come.
If endorsed at the Ordinary Meeting of Council, TRC Mayor Geoff McDonald said this decision would pave the way for the delivery of a new Planning Scheme for the Region.
"This is one of the most significant pieces of work for our community," he said.
"The Planning Scheme forms a cornerstone of Council's Toowoomba Region Futures (TRF) Program, which provides the strategic framework for managing population growth, housing supply, infrastructure investment and environmental resilience over the next 25 years.
"As part of the Committee recommendation, Council has considered an updated Project Management Plan, Communication Strategy, and the establishment of a Planning and Development Policy and Technical Advice Reference Group to support the successful completion of the Planning Scheme.
"The new Planning Scheme, developed under the Toowoomba Region Futures Program, will deliver a unified statutory and strategic framework that supports sustainable growth, investment certainty and regional prosperity.
"This is about planning with purpose, building a resilient, connected and prosperous future for the Toowoomba Region.
"By investing in the right planning foundations today, we are ensuring the Toowoomba Region continues to thrive for generations to come."
TRC Planning (Place) portfolio spokesperson Councillor Tim McMahon said the new Planning Scheme represented both a legislative requirement and a unique opportunity to shape the Region's long-term future.
"This work ensures that our planning framework keeps pace with the population growth, infrastructure, community expectations and provides a clear, transparent, and contemporary approach to land use, liveability and regional betterment," Cr McMahon said.
"Council has undertaken a comprehensive review of the Planning Scheme Project to ensure its well-governed, achievable and aligned with our strategic priorities and the State plan making framework.
"The revised Project Management Plan establishes a clear governance framework, risk management approach and resourcing plan, giving Council confidence we can deliver a robust, best-practice Planning Scheme as quickly as possible.
"We know how important it is that our community has confidence in how the Region is planned which is why we will be implementing a communication strategy to guide engagement across six key phases of the project, ensuring that the community and industry are informed, involved and heard at every step.
"Our engagement approach will go beyond the minimum statutory requirements. It will focus on genuine, transparent, and ongoing dialogue with the people who live, work and invest here."
To strengthen the technical rigour of the new Planning Scheme, Council will also seek Expressions of Interest to establish a Planning and Development Policy and Technical Advice Reference Group to bring together external experts across planning, design, environment, infrastructure and economics.
The Committee recommendation will be put forward for consideration at the Ordinary Meeting of Council on 18 November.
