Community & Business
3 June, 2025
Greenmount subdivision refused
Toowoomba Regional Council officers have chosen to refuse a development application seeking to convert a six acre paddock into ten residential blocks.
The Reconfiguring a Lot application was submitted in October last year on behalf of John Henry Burton and Diana Cristina Burton for the property at 304 Greenmount Connection Road, Greenmount.
This property, located within the Township Zone, is on the northern side of the road between existing housing and the junction with Greenmount Etonvale Road.
The application proposed to create ten lots ranging in area from 2,000m2 to 3,437m2, a new road, a detention basin and four access easements.
The application was refused by Council on the grounds that it did not comply with several assessment benchmarks.
“Insufficient information has been provided regarding the proposed stormwater arrangements,” the Statement of Reasons issued by Council says.
“Several elements of the proposed development are inconsistent with the applicable assessment benchmarks, for which conditions are unable to be imposed to ensure compliance.
“Importantly, the imposition of conditions to require an amended lot layout and demonstration of a workable stormwater solution would lack critical finality and defer important aspects of assessment of the development.”
The assessment benchmarks include a requirement that a development protects and enhances the unique local or historic character of a town in a predominantly rural area.
The Statement of Reasons says Greenmount has a grid-like street network, with all lots having primary frontage to the road they access and roads having kerb and channel.
“The proposal deviates from this established and intended neighbourhood design, by incorporating two lots access via access handles, shared driveway arrangements for multiple lots, providing swale drains within new roads in lieu of kerb and channel, and proposing a cul-de-sac in lieu of providing for a connected road network,” it says.
Other issues raised include the proposed development not providing for an efficient and well-integrated urban form.
“The proposed lot and road layout does not provide for future connectivity via a road extension or any integration with a future road network on adjoining undeveloped greenfield land to the north.”
The proposed development’s street system is deemed to not provide an acceptable level of access, safety and convenience.
“The development does not increase opportunities for walking, cycling and the use of public transport,” the Statement of Reasons says.
It is noted that the Council-owned ‘Gilbride Street Open Space’ is disconnected from the proposed subdivision.
Regarding stormwater, Council had several issues with the proposed development.
The proposed drainage system, stormwater easements, kerb and channel or underground stormwater drainage network, lack of an access track, location of the proposed detention basin and movement of stormwater are all identified as outstanding issues.
