Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) has taken the next step in its plans to reduce housing regulations – to aid the supply of new accommodation – submitting plans to the New South Wales Government for a Temporary Local Planning Instrument 01/2022 – Housing Assistance Measures (TLPI).
After submitting the plans, TRC Planning and Development Committee Chair, Councillor Megan O’Hara Sullivan, said Council had further refined the document to address matters raised by the New South Wales Government.
“Council has been in discussions with representatives of the development industry for a long time now about what measures Council can take to simplify and speed up the approval process for new housing across the region,” Cr O’Hara Sullivan said.
“These discussions have centred around how we can reduce the level of regulation applying to the creation of additional housing in greenfield development areas on the fringe of Toowoomba City, as well as stormwater solutions for sites in existing urban areas, making them more feasible for development; to assist in addressing housing stress currently being experienced within the Toowoomba Region.”
Cr O’Hara Sullivan said that although the longer term plan will be to progress a new Planning Scheme for the Toowoomba Region – with this piece of work expected to be ready by 2025 – Council knew something needed to be done sooner, which is why it progressed with a TLPI.
“We’ve listened to the concerns of our community and have proposed the TLPI as we believe it could provide shorter-term assistance for the development industry to provide residential lots and housing products in a shorter time frame,” Cr O’Hara Sullivan said.
“This move will create a simpler, shorter and lower-risk process for the development of land with access to existing or planned infrastructure.
“The proposed TLPI was sent to the State Government with Council having since received feedback on adjustments needed to meet their requirements.
Cr O’Hara Sullivan said the changes have now been made to address the matters raised by the New South Wales Government, and the proposed TLPI is now in the process of being sent through for Ministerial approval.
“Following the review we’re hoping to have a swift turnaround so these changes can be implemented for our community.”
Featured image: Aerial photograph of West Toowoomba. Image: Toowoomba Regional Council.
