General News
29 March, 2023
More people, more jobs
Toowoomba Regional Council’s Regional Growth Plan forecasts just under 2000 extra residents in the Jondaryan Statistical Area over the next 28 years and 50 more local jobs.
Residential growth is expected in the south of Oakey and consolidation elsewhere in the Jondaryan and Rosalie districts as part of Toowoomba Regional Council’s Regional Growth Plan.
Despite an increase in population, only an extra 50 jobs are forecast for the area, suggesting that the trend of Oakey and Kingsthorpe becoming commuter towns is predicated to continue.
Cr Bill Cahill says the forecast map is merely a projection, and that growth could vary, depending on factors such as Inland Rail, changes in agriculture and the possible expansion at the Army Aviation Base, and the success of Toowoomba’s Regional Trade Centre at Charlton.
“If we don’t have that plan growth may be unsustainable,” he said.
“It’s a phased projection, and it may very well be different in the second half of the 15 years.
“Oakey is ideally situated to reap the benefits of future employment at Charlton.”
“Oakey, Crows Nest, and Pittsworth are considered principal towns by TRC and that won’t change during the period of this plan.
Cr Cahill said that the forecast would be shaped by the community’s feedback.
“There will be touchpoints along the way, where community can get involved,” he said.
Cr Cahill said growth in certain corridors has been shown to prompt infrastructure development such as the new shopping centre in Kingsthorpe.
“It’s a bit specialised, but let me give a concrete example,” he said.
“I was in planning when the sewer line went into Kingsthorpe.
“As soon as that came through, we now have a shopping centre springing up.
“That’s an example of opportunity manifesting itself in a concrete form.”
Cr Cahill said community groups would have the opportunity to shape the growth of their plan at several ‘touchpoints’ over the life of the plan.
“I would strongly urge the community, including the Chamber, to be involved and give feedback at all stages of planning,” he said.
“That’s when the granular details (of growth) will come out in the planning scheme.”
Cr Cahill was also keen to note that Council had planned for the event of a large “boom” in regional growth.
“We absolutely have planned for medium-large growth, and to accommodate those growth patterns.”
Cr Megan O’Hara Sullivan emphasised the Council’s commitment to sustained growth.
“We need growth in a sustainable way so that we have the infrastructure to cater for more people,” she said.
