Toowoomba Council Advances Regional Water Security During Key Committee Sessions

Toowoomba Council Advances Regional Water Security During Key Committee Sessions

Toowoomba Regional Council committee meetings are continuing today, Wednesday, 11 February 2026, as the local government moves to secure critical infrastructure for the region’s rapidly growing south-western corridor. The sessions follow a major announcement regarding the acquisition of a strategic property in Westbrook, which is slated to become the site of a future water treatment plant.

The acquisition, discussed during this week’s cycle of committee deliberations, marks a significant step in the Council’s long-term planning for the Westbrook and Glenvale areas. Mayor Geoff McDonald emphasized that the land purchase allows the Council to finalize the location for the plant and strengthens the city's position when applying for state and federal funding to accelerate the project.

The project is part of a broader infrastructure program intended to support housing development and water security across several suburbs. Key components of the planned works discussed during recent sessions include:

• Construction of a new water treatment plant at the newly acquired Westbrook site.
• Installation of approximately 9 kilometers of new trunk water mains to facilitate supply.
• Development of new pumping stations to transfer treated water to a proposed reservoir at Mt Peel.
• Establishing direct connections to existing infrastructure at the Gabbinbar reservoir.

While the project is currently scheduled for completion by 2034, Deputy Mayor Rebecca Vonhoff noted during the sessions that the timeline could be significantly accelerated with external financial support. According to the Deputy Mayor, the land is now ready for development, but the scale of the investment required to meet state-mandated housing targets necessitates a collaborative funding approach from other levels of government.

The infrastructure is expected to serve a wide range of communities, including Glenvale, Drayton, Westbrook, Wyreema, Hodgson Vale, Vale View, Darling Heights, Middle Ridge, and Kearneys Spring. Council officials noted that the current interest from the development industry in these areas is high, but progress remains contingent on the expansion of water capacity and treatment capabilities.

Beyond water infrastructure, this week’s committee meetings also cover essential portfolios including Planning and Development, Infrastructure, and Environment and Community. These sessions provide the groundwork for decisions that will be formally ratified at the next Ordinary Meeting of Council. Members of the public are encouraged to follow the proceedings as the Council navigates the balance between regional growth and sustainable service delivery.