Council sets out future plan for parking across the Region

Published on 19 August 2026

From better parking management to improved transport choices, Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) is taking a coordinated approach to how people move around the Region, with the Toowoomba Region Parking Strategy 2026 approved for immediate finalisation.

The strategy sits alongside Council's ongoing work through the Public Transport Levy to improve travel choices across the Region. While the levy is helping progress future improvements to public transport services, the parking strategy ensures Council is also planning for the safe, efficient and sustainable management of parking as the Region continues to grow.

The strategy builds on the 2019 Toowoomba City Centre Car Parking Strategy and expands the focus to include parking needs across the whole Toowoomba Region.

TRC Transport and Drainage Planning portfolio spokesperson Councillor Trevor Manteufel said the strategy would help guide how Council manages parking across the Region into the future.

“Parking plays an important role in how people move around our Region, whether they are visiting a local business, attending an appointment, dropping children at school or accessing community services,” Cr Manteufel said.

“This strategy looks at parking across the whole Region and gives Council a clear direction for supporting safety, accessibility, local businesses and community wellbeing.

“The strategy sets out our approach to managing on-street and off-street parking, responding to changing driver behaviour, growth in demand and the need for consistent, customer-focused services.

“It also considers how parking can help reduce congestion, improve safety, support economic activity and encourage people to consider other transport options where practical.”

The strategy has been broken up into the following strategic objectives:

• Ease of Use: We want to offer our customers a higher quality parking service. We want to make the parking experience simpler and easier to navigate for residents and visitors.

• Safety: We want our customers to feel safer using our parking services across the Region.

• Plan for growth: We want to retain the uniqueness and liveability of our Region as it experiences its most significant growth.

Cr Manteufel said the endorsement was an important step in moving from planning to delivery.

“We want parking to be practical and user-friendly, while also making sure Council manages its parking assets responsibly and sustainably,” he said.

“As our Region grows and prepares for future opportunities, including the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, it’s important we have a clear plan for how parking supports residents, businesses and visitors.”

Council will now finalise the strategy and use it to guide future parking decisions across the Toowoomba Region.