Proposed Toowoomba North South Transport Corridor scrapped after community consultation

• The Department of Transport and Main Roads has undertaken preliminary planning for a future transport corridor west of Toowoomba.
• Community consultation commenced on a proposed corridor on 10 July 2023 and closed on 13 October 2023.
• The community has had its say and most of the proposed corridor has been scrapped based on extensive public opposition to the proposed route.

TMR will now work with Toowoomba Regional Council to identify alternate transport solutions that maximise the use of existing road infrastructure to address Toowoomba’s future transport needs.

After receiving more than 4000 responses and submissions through the three-month community consultation phase for the Toowoomba North South Transport Corridor, the Department of Transport and Main Roads has listened to the feedback of local residents and will now work with Toowoomba Regional Council to further investigate some of the alternate solutions that were suggested by the community. 

The only section that will proceed to corridor protection is the small Charlton Bypass in the industrial area which proved to be uncontroversial after some refinements to reflect land use changes and community feedback in the area.

As part of the planning and consultation process, TMR has engaged with key stakeholders, Toowoomba Regional Council, elected representatives, industry, property owners along the proposed corridor, residents living just outside the corridor, first nation representatives and the greater Toowoomba community.

While the community feedback received shows there is positive support for an overall solution to address expected future growth, feedback has been clear that this needs to balance against concerns raised by some community members in relation to some aspects of the project.

The Palaszczuk Government remains committed to ensuring that personal, public and commercial transport in Toowoomba is managed effectively in the long-term by ensuring that residents and businesses are supported by the right infrastructure. Forecasts show Toowoomba is expected to grow by 76,000 to 200,000 people by 2046 with significant new community development projects, including new housing, approved for development. 

Quotes attributable to the Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey:

“We are a government that listens to our community and we are extremely grateful to everyone that has provided us with feedback, detailed submissions or even just shared their story with us.

“On critical, large projects such as the North South Transport Corridor, it’s important that the community has a say – that’s why we do community consultation – so that we can change and pivot to reflect the needs of the community.

“Now that consultation has closed, TMR will work with Toowoomba Regional Council to identify alternate transport solutions that maximise the use of existing road infrastructure.

“Toowoomba is growing and that is a great thing for the community because it means jobs and prosperity.

“I want to thank everyone who took the time to prepare submissions, meet with the project team and provide general feedback about the proposed transport corridor.”

ENDS

Media contact – Minister Bailey office – 0419 288 284