Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) recently endorsed an updated Toowoomba Region Sports Precinct (TRSP) Master Plan for the Charlton site, on the north-eastern side of the Toowoomba Bypass and Warrego Highway intersection.
TRC Sport and Recreation Services portfolio spokesperson Cr Tim McMahon said the updated Master Plan retained key elements of the 2020 Master Plan, such as the premier hub and the number of rectangular fields but now incorporated the earlier inclusion of a tartan athletics track and the realignment of some facilities.
The new Master Plan has changed to “better suit the area’s topography and geology”, along with updates to internal and access roads, and better parking for cars and buses.
“We are committed to the original intent of the Master Plan, which is for the staged delivery of a high-class, regional sports facility that promotes the social wellbeing of the community and positions Toowoomba as a premier location for regional, state and national sporting competitions,” Cr McMahon said.
“The TRSP will be developed across eight precincts with sporting fields catering for football (soccer), rugby league, rugby union, Australian Rules football, cricket, softball, and the athletics facility.
“The precinct will also include a premier hub with change rooms, clubhouse amenities, food and drink outlets, spectator seating and acknowledgment of (local) Indigenous cultural artifacts and (surrounding) localities.
“Extensive stakeholder engagement was undertaken to inform specific elements of the updated Master Plan.
“This included the support of the Toowoomba Clay Target Club and the Sporting Shooters’ Association of Australia Oakey branch and the Toowoomba Company of Archers for the relocation of shooting and archery facilities from the site.
“While the project addresses the existing shortage of developed sports land for our Region, Council is aware that additional planning will be needed to keep catering for the growing demand for sporting facilities.
“Following the late 2023 scrapping of the proposed Toowoomba North South Transport Corridor, discussions with the Department of Transport and Main Roads have turned to investigating a potential northern access road off Gowrie Junction Road, which is seen as safer and easier to construct than a southern access road (off Gowrie Junction Road).”
Cr McMahon said a revised 10-year capital works budget had been developed for the project, taking into consideration competing capital priorities, and committing to exploring future grant opportunities.
This article appeared in On Our Selection News, 3 July 2025.
