Toowoomba Region Councillor and former State Member for Toowoomba North Kerry Shine has made a submission to the Queensland Redistribution Commission (QRC) that proposes to radically change local electorates.

The changes would greatly alter Condamine, Toowoomba South and Toowoomba North, with the latter two changing their names to reflect new boundaries.

A summary of Mr Shine’s submission to the QRC Chairperson, Judge Greg Koppenol, is presented as follows:

“Projections indicate sustained expansion, with approximately 4,684 people expected to be added between now and 2041, positioning Highfields to reach around 14,000 residents by 2032 and underscoring its role as the primary growth corridor north of Toowoomba.

“These trends highlight the need to reorient electoral boundaries to capture Highfields’ distinct community and economic trajectory.

“To reflect this shift and ensure logical electoral boundaries, I propose the following adjustments:

“Reorient Toowoomba North as “Highfields” shifting the southern boundary of the electorate from James Street to North Street; and

“Rename Toowoomba South to “Toowoomba” and shift the southern boundary of the electorate along the full length of Stenner Street, transferring electors in low-growth, peri-urban areas to the Condamine electorate.

“This would place the Toowoomba CBD entirely within the renamed Toowoomba electorate, ensuring a cohesive representation of the city’s economic and cultural core.

“Centering the Highfields electorate around its growth hub fosters a unified community identity, while placing the Toowoomba CBD within a single electorate strengthens its representation as a cohesive economic and social unit.

“The proposed boundaries follow major roads, providing clear and logical demarcations that align with existing transport and community patterns.

This article appeared in On Our Selection News, 9 October 2025.