Internal demolition has started at the site of Toowoomba Regional Council’s newest Toowoomba CBD pedestrian walkway and multi-functional public space at 174 Margaret Street.
Toowoomba Region Mayor Paul Antonio said the vacant building on the eastern side of Tatt’s Hotel in Margaret Street would be transformed to reveal an attractive urban walkway and meeting place. “This is the early demolition work which will further inform our final concept plans for the laneway,” Mayor Antonio said. “This early work will reveal whether there are certain features that we wish to retain for the project,” he said. “The draft concept plan was developed through consultation with Margaret Street businesses, the Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce, the City Heart CBD Focus Group, the Queensland Police Service, the Toowoomba Architects’ Group and the Queensland Urban Design and Place Panel.”
Mayor Antonia said Council received a range of positive comments regarding plans to construct the lane that will link Margaret Street to Jessie and Annand streets, and laneway construction is scheduled to start early next year and be completed by the middle of 2020.
“The project, which is part of Council’s Laneway Strategy for the CBD and the overarching Toowoomba City Centre Masterplan, will realise a vision to transform this area of the CBD. When completed the new walkway will provide a convenient pedestrian thoroughfare between the CBD and longer-term car parking and other retailers,” he said. “By incorporating good urban design ideas, 174 Margaret Street will be an attractive, safe open space for city workers and the public to enjoy. The plan proposes an area incorporating green space, visitor information, public amenities, weather protection and convenient access to surrounding areas. This project will complement other work which has been performed to refresh the CBD.”
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