Church angry at council decision

FAITH IN QUESTION: Citilife Church senior pastor Jonathan Oastler says the dispute over the Masters hardware store development on Hume St has him questioning his faith in Toowoomba Regional Council.

Nev Madsen

Should all development applications be publicly notified and open to public objection?

COMMUNITY church and school officials claim their objections to a massive Masters hardware store development were ignored by Toowoomba Regional Council.

A public meeting will be held on Sunday in an attempt to rally support before the matter is be heard in the Planning and Environment Court in Brisbane on March 7 and 8.

The Christian Outreach Centre, which owns the Christian Outreach College and Citilife Church, was notified in 2009 that there were plans to develop the vacant lot next to the college.

Senior pastor Jonathan Oastler said the centre had co-operated with the developer McNab and Toowoomba Regional Council in the early stages of the development.

However, senior pastor Oastler claims issues arose when McNab lodged changed plans with council last year.

Despite lodging an objection, senior pastor Oastler claims Toowoomba Regional Council ignored the concerns, which centred on traffic and noise impacts.

The development was approved in November last year.

Senior pastor Oastler said he had lost confidence in Toowoomba Regional Council's development approval process.

"We found out before it was approved, we objected and yet council approved it anyway," he said.

"We believe the court case in March will result in a positive outcome for us."

Senior pastor Oastler said the issues were compounded when Toowoomba Regional Council moved to resume a strip of land along the college's northern boundary.

He said the resumption of that land would block the college's plans to build a childcare centre and grandstands.

"We communicated with council about the massive impact this would have, but council went ahead anyway."

A Toowoomba Regional Council spokesman said the matter was "a complex one" and declined to comment in detail because it was before the Planning and Environment Court.

"On the one hand there is a developer who has a legal right to develop his or her land, and on the other a neighbouring property owner with the legal right to protect his or her interests," the spokesman said.

"Adding to that complexity there is a need for an essential infrastructure easement to service both properties, as well as potential further development in the area into the future.

"Council is trying to facilitate a without-prejudice discussion between all parties in an attempt to reach a fair and reasonable outcome."

McNab also declined to comment in detail because the matter was before the Planning and Environment Court.

However, the company did inform The Chronicle that it had "all the relevant development permits for a material change of use, operational works and building works to commence and complete the construction works on the Hume St site'.

The public rally will be held at 2pm this Sunday at the Christian Outreach College's multipurpose hall.

Continued here:
Church angry at council decision