Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) is encouraging the business community to join the conversation as part of Your City Centre Beyond 2020.
Businesses can contribute ideas about how the CBD looks in 2030 and also suggest city making ideas through two new surveys that are now available on Council’s YourSay webpage.
TRC Planning and Development Chair Cr Megan O’Hara Sullivan said we want to understand what the City Centre in 2030 looks like for our local business.
“A lot has changed in the ten years since the Toowoomba City Centre Masterplan was released. This survey allows our commercial, industrial and retail sector to have a say in the future of the city centre.
“The business community has the opportunity to contribute through two surveys that are guided by a range of national and international case studies.
“The first is focussed on our People, Place, Programming and post COVID-19 future, and the second explores what works well in other city centres and could be applied locally.
“Through feedback from the business sector, we want to understand people’s ideas, priorities and ideas about the city centre beyond 2020. Is it better connected, greener, more liveable, creative and activated?
“The surveys also focus on the way Council, and Toowoomba business collaborates, the way industry works together as a sector and the models for funding community ideas and initiatives.
“Our CBD businesses play a critical role in attracting people for work, play, professional services and importantly, retail.”
Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Officer, Mr Todd Rohl welcomed the opportunity for businesses to have a say on the city centre’s future.
“The renewal of our city heart is a key priority identified by the Toowoomba Chamber,” Mr Rohl said.
“Through the years, the way we do business has changed, along with our preferences on where we live, work and play.
“The Toowoomba City Centre has to keep pace with the changing landscape of towns and cities.
“This is an important review, and I would encourage the business community to join the conversation on the future of our city centre.”
Cr O’Hara Sullivan said Your City Centre – Beyond 2020 would generate sound ideas and concepts supporting priorities for the development of the centre and surrounds into the future.
“The focus of engagement is through five themes that will help guide the direction of future investment in our CBD,” Cr O’Hara Sullivan said.
“The themes are:
- Activated: Creative ideas for the City Centre?
- Connected: Better ways to move around the City Centre?
- Greener: More trees in the City Centre?
- Liveable: Want to live in the City Centre?
- Post COVID-19: What’s your City Centre post COVID-19?
“Your responses will influence the updated implementation plan that will guide future development in our CBD, which includes the Railway Parklands Priority Development Area.”
The business survey will remain open until 20 July 2020. To contribute to the Your City Centre Beyond 2020 review visit https://yoursay.tr.qld.gov.au/citycentre
