Highfields Town Centre
Ensuring Highfields has a Town Centre that meets our needs
Update - June 2025
)The Highfields Chamber of Commerce and the Highfields Community Heart Project Committee successfully applied for community funding from the PCCN to commission an Economic and Planning Needs Assessment for the Highfields Town Centre, conducted by Foresight Partners.
The report aimed to evaluate the future demand for centre-zoned land in Highfields and support the Chamber’s submission to Toowoomba Regional Council regarding the Central Highfields Master Plan update.
The assessment provides current data, projections, and comparative analysis to inform economic planning, land supply and demand, and future centre zoning needs for Highfields and Northern regions of the Local Government Area (LGA).
As a committee, we believe the report clearly supports our concerns that the Draft 2025 Highfields Central Master Plan (2025 CHMP) does not meet the needs of the Highfields community or align with TRC’s own planning standards.
The final report was delivered to the Mayor, Councillors, and Town Planning on Friday, 6 June, along with a request to meet with Councillors, town planning staff, Foresight Partners, and committee members to discuss the findings. A meeting has been scheduled for 9th July, ahead of the final decision by Councillor in August 2025.
We sincerely thank PCCN (Progressive Community Crows Nest Ltd) and the Highfields Community branch of Heritage Bank for their generous support and funding, which enabled us to commission and complete this report.
The money for grants such as this one is only possible when the community supports many services offered by Heritage Bank Community Branches at Crows Nest and Highfields.
Petitions signed & submitted to Council as of 14 May 2025
Our Mission
Our Purpose
The aim of this page is to:
- Provide constructive feedback on the 2025 Central Highfields Master Plan (CHMP) proposed by Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC).
- Share the details of TRC’s current proposal for the town centre.
- Suggest incorporating the most beneficial elements of the 2018 CHMP to better meet the needs of our community now and into the future.
Necessary Enhancements to the Current Plan
As members of the community, we propose the following improvements to ensure the Master Plan supports local needs and future growth:
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Allocate a larger area for medical facilities to improve local access and reduce the need for travel.
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Provide office space suitable for professional services such as accountants, lawyers, travel agents, and other service-based businesses.
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Consider the inclusion of larger commercial blocks to cater to future retail and business needs.
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Relocate the fire station to a more suitable location.
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Introduce appropriate buffer zones between commercial and residential areas.
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Create civic spaces that are fit-for-purpose and designed to serve the community effectively.
Note: The current draft of the 2025 CHMP lacks sufficient detail regarding the proposed location, size, and function of key facilities.
Key Considerations
The Highfields Chamber of Commerce and the wider community respectfully request that Council take the following points into account when finalising the Master Plan:
- Adopt a staged approach to the sale and development of the land.
- Ensure alignment with other relevant planning instruments and regional strategies.
- Reconsider zoning and precinct layouts to reduce residential density and support mixed-use development.
Current Concerns
Local Businesses
A staged development allows for the gradual introduction of commercial spaces, providing local businesses the opportunity to establish themselves and flourish. Currently, many service-based businesses, retail stores, and restaurants are eager to operate in Highfields but face challenges due to limited facilities.
By staging the development, we can create diverse commercial opportunities that cater to these businesses, fostering a vibrant local economy and reducing the need for residents to seek services outside the community.
Proposed 2025 Masterplan is to sell the whole block to one developer to be developed in one lot, and will not allow for what is required in Highfields future.
Medical Facilities
With Highfields’ population on the rise, the demand for comprehensive medical services is increasing. A phased development approach can prioritise the establishment of medical centres and allied health services, ensuring that residents have access to essential healthcare within their community. This strategy not only addresses current healthcare needs but also anticipates future demands as the population continues to grow.
Our local medical centre wants to build a mixed use larger facility that is adequate for the future needs of all.
Local Jobs
Staged development facilitates the steady creation of diverse job opportunities, benefiting both the current workforce and future generations.
By gradually introducing various commercial and community projects, we can provide employment prospects for local residents and part-time positions suitable for school students.
This approach not only supports the local economy but also fosters a sense of community involvement and growth.
Summary of our objections with Council's 2025 Master Plan
Proposed Plan for April 2025
As proposed by Highfields Chamber of Commerce and Highfields Community Heart Project Committee
The current committee, along with conisderation from the community have drawn up a proposed plan and submitted it to council, along with 3194 signed petitions on 14 May 2025. The petition will be presented at the Ordinary Council Meeting on May 20th.
The key features of our new plan:
- A Civic Boulevard/Mall similar to Nicholas Street in Ipswich which connects an ANZAC precinct with the town centre.
- An Activation Street which is intended to have multi-storey buildings with shops/cafes along the street.
- A large area in the top-left which allows for you bulky retail stores, which are separated from the attractive areas (i.e. Civic Boulevard and Activation Street).
- A street along the bottom boundary – this provides street access and infrastructure to existing low-density residential blocks which could allow future subdivision, creating a natural buffer/transition between higher density in the town centre and the existing very low density without compromising the land within the town centre.
- Medium Density Residential Zoning which does not allow for detached housing as this is not a good outcome.
- Expansion of commercial zoning along the Civic Boulevard – this can incorporate housing options as well if the market demands, but the focus should be on having cafes/restaurants/shops at street level and leading into the parkland.
Note: the light pink is existing housing and our new proposal is a step down from commercial to residential. This plan does allow for units to be built above shops and highrise buildings, as proposed by council, for office space.
TRC presenting finding from Feb 2025 Survey to Highfields Residents as well as a “New” updated design – 7 May 2025
Discussing concerns with updated plan with Cr Rebecca Vonhoff on night of Council Community Meeting
Presenting the 3194 signed petitions to Cr Rebecca Vonhoff who will present this to Council’s Ordinary Meeting 20 May 2025.
Economic Growth for Highfields
Diving into the Numbers
Current Homes in Highfields (2025)
Expected Number of Homes by 2045
Population in Highfields (2021)*
Expected Population by 2051*
* Toowoomba Regional Council’s Growth Plan 2023
Proposed Revised Masterplan for Highfields 2025
- Increased Residential Land
- Insufficient Medical Facility space
- Civic Centre currently overlapping Fire Station
- Insufficient commercial space for the growth of Highfields
- No Buffer zone against existing housing
- This masterplan is not considered to be reflective of the likely increase in demand for services in the Town Centre.