22 March, 2023
Modest growth anticipated for Clifton
Clifton is expected to grow in population by 450 people and be home to 250 new dwellings according to the recently released Toowoomba Region Growth Plan.
Presented to Council last week, the Growth Plan is intended to act as the as the long- term population and employment growth strategy for the Region to 2051.
In its entirety, the Toowoomba Region is expected to grow by around 66,600 new people and 39,500 new jobs over the next 30 years, requiring around 27,000 new dwellings.
With the population rising from 175,250 in 2021 to 241,800 in 2023, this represents an annual average growth of 1.2 per cent.
Across the Clifton - Greenmount area, which includes the town of Nobby and outlying areas such as Pilton, Ramsay, Felton and Ellangowan, the population is expected to grow by 850 people, from 5,150 in 2021 to 6,000 in 2051, representing an average annual growth of 0.5 per cent.
Across the same time period, jobs are expected to grow by 300 from 1,500 to 1,800, while dwellings are expected to grow by 350 from 2,100 to 2,450, both with an average annual growth of 0.6 per cent.
In Clifton, the Growth Plan says new housing will likely be similar to existing housing, on mid-to-large sized lots and predominantly free-standing rather than townhouses or duplexes.
“There is capacity in land and infrastructure networks to accommodate new growth dispersed across the urban areas of Clifton,” it says.
“Opportunity to expand beyond the township is limited due to the nature of the surrounding landscape.”
The area at the north of Clifton bounded by Gannon Street, Clark Street and Weidman Road, designated as urban expansion area, is currently subject to an application to create 40 residential lots.
Toowoomba Regional Council is yet to reach a decision on this application, which was submitted in December.
Long-term growth opportunities are identified to the east and west of town past the high school and along Clifton Leyburn Road respectively.
A major concern noted for Clifton is water quality and security, which is regarded as a constraint to growth.
It is acknowledged that the delivery of a water pipeline, which is currently proposed, would increase the potential for growth.
Interestingly, the Growth Plan identified Clifton’s changing demographic profile, with an increasing number of older residents.
“This may necessitate the provision of increased housing choice, as well as increased aged care services and facilities to cater for the town’s ageing population,” the Growth Plan said.
Clifton Community Health Services’ Executive Director, Community Rodney Watton told The Clifton Courier last year that his organisation is looking into this possibility, exploring opportunities for more affordable housing using the vacant land CCHS owns.
Elsewhere, Cambooya and Wyreema are expected to grow by 1,300 people and 550 dwellings.
Each town currently has just over 2,000 residents.
Smaller towns such as Greenmount and Nobby were not individually covered in the Growth Plan.
The Toowoomba Region
Growth Plan was commissioned as part of the Toowoomba Region Futures program launched in 2021, alongside a new Toowoomba Region Planning Scheme and a Toowoomba Region Infrastructure Plan.
Toowoomba Region Mayor Paul Antonio said
the Toowoomba Region Growth Plan establishes a clear and coordinated long-term growth strategy to guide when and how employment and population growth occurs, allowing the Region to develop in a “thoughtful and considered manner.”
