Toowoomba Council Approves $10 Billion Inland Rail Planning Changes

Toowoomba Regional Council passed amendments to its planning scheme on 8 July that require additional local road upgrades before sections of the $10 billion Inland Rail project can proceed through the city. The changes apply to properties along the proposed corridor between Willowburn and the Charlton industrial estate and will affect 420 hectares of land currently zoned for rural and light industrial use.

The decision comes as construction crews advance the Toowoomba section of Inland Rail, with track laying scheduled to reach the city limits by late 2027. Council records show the amendments respond to submissions from the Department of Transport and Main Roads about increased heavy vehicle movements on existing local roads once the rail line opens.

Community and expert input at the meeting

Local advocates from the Darling Downs branch of AgForce told councillors that altered road access could add 15 minutes to daily travel times for farmers delivering grain to the Willowburn grain terminal. Policy analysts from the University of Southern Queensland noted that the amendments align with earlier state government modelling that projected a 12 percent rise in heavy vehicle traffic on Toowoomba's western arterial roads after Inland Rail begins operations.

Residents in the Charlton and Glenvale areas will see new requirements for developer contributions toward intersection upgrades at the Warrego Highway interchange. These contributions are expected to total $4.8 million across the next three financial years, according to council budget papers released in June.

Next steps for implementation

Council officers will now prepare detailed design briefs for the required road works, with public consultation on the designs scheduled for September. The amendments take effect immediately for any new development applications lodged after 8 July, while existing approvals remain under the previous scheme rules.

Further state government funding for the road upgrades remains under negotiation, with the council scheduled to meet with the Department of Transport and Main Roads again in August to finalise cost-sharing arrangements.