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Last Updated: Wednesday, 02 November 2022 10:04

Published: Wednesday, 02 November 2022 09:48

Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) is continuing its strategic work balancing the conflict between preserving green areas and suitable sites for future urban growth.

TRC Planning and Development Committee portfolio leader Cr Bill Cahill said Council has heard from residents voicing concerns about the extent of vegetation removal in the Highfields area.

“Council’s review of the planning scheme will look at ways to better manage vegetation that may come under threat from urban encroachment,” Cr Cahill said.

“This would most likely include areas that are designated for future urban development.

“The new planning scheme will identify future growth areas. In turn, this will minimise the conflict between the need for housing and preserving existing trees.

“Our ongoing work to prepare a new planning scheme will include more opportunities for the community to provide their views on this and other issues.

“There has been significant community input in recent years on various Council projects such as the Green Infrastructure Strategy, and more recently for Greening Toowoomba (which sought input on ideas to protect and enhance the Region’s network of living assets) and the Shaping Our Future workshops.

“Responses and technical information will be used throughout the ongoing drafting of the planning scheme to shape where and how urban development will occur in a way to protect our flora and fauna corridors and waterways.”

TRC Planning and Development Committee chair Cr Megan O’Hara Sullivan said Council was aware of community sentiment around recent approved tree clearing, particularly at Highfields.

“There will be an ongoing need for new urban areas on Toowoomba’s fringe given our growth forecasts,” Cr O’Hara Sullivan said.

“This demand will result in the loss of greenfield areas that are being used for semi-agricultural activity and may have existing stands of vegetation.

“In the current circumstances facing Australia where there is a dire shortage of housing, Council is faced with the dilemma of approving new areas for housing that may contain vegetation that is incompatible with suburban-density development.

“There has been a resolution adopted by Council to partner with the community to plant one million trees, subject to budgetary considerations, across our existing urban areas and adjoining rural areas.”