Development incentives

Our development incentives form a key part of our strategic approach to economic development for the region. They:

  • boost local job creation and industry expansion
  • revitalise townships and activate Toowoomba’s city centre
  • encourage diversity and affordable housing
  • support tourism innovation and Olympic legacy outcomes
  • provide infrastructure and services for healthier, more connected communities.

We offer discounts on infrastructure charges and development application fees for eligible developments.

We're ready to work with developers, investors, community leaders and industry partners to deliver high-impact projects to shape the region’s future.

Discounts are capped at $5 million a year for 2027–28.

Development incentives

Regional townships and communities

We're offering discounts on infrastructure charges for eligible projects.

This incentive supports sustainable growth and liveability of our regional townships and rural communities.

It aims to increase housing supply, attract new businesses, and deliver essential services to priority areas.

Eligible projects

  • Residential developments that deliver three or more homes or short-term accommodation
  • New or expanding businesses employing five or more full-time equivalent staff
  • New healthcare or residential care facilities

Incentives

  • 50% discount on infrastructure charges for residential
  • 75% discount on infrastructure charges for industry activities
  • 55% discount on infrastructure charges for business activities
  • 55% discount on infrastructure charges for health or residential care facilities

Maximum discount per development

  • $100,000 for housing and business or industry activities
  • $250,000 for health or residential care

View 2.32 Development Incentive - Regional Townships and Communities Policy.

Medium density residential

This incentive encourages townhouses, apartments and dual occupancies development in the urban charge area. This will improve liveability and housing diversity.

This incentive excludes the Central Toowoomba Incentive Area, which has its own incentive.

Eligible projects

  • Dual occupancies (two homes on one block, attached or detached)
  • Multiple dwellings (three or more homes, attached or detached)

Incentives

  • 60% discount on infrastructure charges for multiple dwellings
  • 30% discount on infrastructure charges for dual occupancies

Maximum discount per development

$500,000

View 2.84 Development Incentive - Medium Density Residential Development Policy.

 

Central Toowoomba

This incentive promotes high-quality urban renewal in the Toowoomba CBD.

It supports premium accommodation, residential density and conference facility development. It also supports adaptive reuse of heritage buildings.

Eligible projects

  • 4- or 5-star hotel
  • Residential developments with 10 or more units
  • Reuse of heritage-listed buildings for accommodation purposes
  • Residential or hotel developments that combine four or more land parcels

Incentives

  • 100% discount for eligible heritage reuse or combining sites
  • 80% discount for 10 or more residential units or 4- or 5-star hotel projects

Maximum discount per development

$1 million

View 2.50 Development Incentive - Central Toowoomba Incentive Area Policy.

Non-residential

This supports businesses creating employment and contributing to economic growth in industrial zones.

Eligible projects

  • Industrial developments in the urban charge areas which create 10 or more full-time equivalent jobs
  • Realignment of lots in industrial zones

Incentives

  • 70% discount for reconfiguring a lot within zones with planned industrial uses
  • 50% discount for eligible projects in Urban Charge Areas
  • High-value investment projects on application

Maximum discount per development

  • $20,000 off development application fees
  • $100,000 off infrastructure charges

View 2.80 Development Incentive - Non-Residential Development Policy.

Niche tourism

This policy encourages development of unique tourism experiences that:

  • enhance the region’s visitor economy
  • support Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games legacy outcomes.

Eligible projects

  • Developments which create direct employment opportunities and a focus on:
    • nature-based tourism
    • ecotourism
    • cultural tourism
    • First Nations tourism
    • adventure tourism
    • sports tourism
    • agritourism.
  • Tourist accommodation such as cabins, farm stays and eco-lodges
  • Function centres for visitors
  • Niche tourism developments that support the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games

Incentives

One of three discount options:

  • 75% discount on development application fees
  • 50% discount on infrastructure charges in urban charge areas
  • 75% discount on infrastructure charges in township and rural charge areas

Maximum discount per development

  • $20,000 on development application fees
  • $100,000 on infrastructure charges

View 2.89 Development Incentive - Niche Tourism Policy.

Not-for-profit community uses

We're supporting not-for-profit organisations that deliver health, wellbeing, emergency and sporting services. This incentive helps reduce development costs for groups making a positive local impact.

Eligible organisations

The following organisations registered as a charity or not-for-profit organisation:

  • Public benevolent institutions (PBIs)
  • Health promotion charities (HPCs)
  • Sporting and community groups
  • Emergency services organisations

Incentives

  • 75% discount on infrastructure charges for PBI, HPC and community-based organisations
  • 100% discount on development application fees

Maximum discount per development

  • $20,000 on development application fees
  • $250,000 on infrastructure charges

View 2.44 Development Incentive - Not-for-Profit Community Uses Policy(PDF, 222KB).

Apply for incentives

If you want us to consider your project for a development incentive:

  1. Review the relevant policy and eligibility criteria for your project.
  2. Submit a Development incentives application.
  3. If approved, enter into an infrastructure agreement with us.

Apply now

For tailored advice, call us on 131 872, and ask to speak to a member of the Economic Development Team, or email economic_dev@tr.qld.gov.au.

Key tasks

Apply for development incentive

Related information

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