The Toowoomba residential property market is gearing up for more growth heading into the Spring selling season, according to the Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ). The REIQ June Quarter 2014 Housing Market Review released today reveals solid growth in the Toowoomba market over the last 12 months.
REIQ Acting CEO Antonia Mercorella said the Review reflected increased buyer confidence and a sense of optimism about the prospects of local real estate. “These are the figures many vendors have been waiting for – shorter days on market, significantly reduced vendor discounting and increased buyer competition,†she said.
“They show the Toowoomba real estate market is on a trajectory of growth, with buyers growing more confident as we head into the Spring selling season.â€Â
According to the Review, the Toowoomba median house value was up two per cent in the June Quarter to $338,619, and up 8.1 per cent over the last twelve months. Average vendor discounting in Toowoomba is down to 4.6 per cent, compared to 7.3 per cent in June 2013. Over the same period, average days on market in Townsville have fallen from 87 to 64.
REIQ Toowoomba/Darling Downs Zone Chair David Snow said despite a strong start to 2014, there was a shortage of properties for sale in the city. “Properties up to the $450,000 mark especially are selling relatively quickly and with no apparent lessening of capital values,†he said. “Toowoomba is gearing up now for a busy trading period in the final quarter of 2014 as the city continues to be favoured in market discussions nationally.â€Â
Ms Mercorella said the Quarterly Review also reveals solid growth in other parts of the State. According to the Review, the Brisbane median house value was up 1.9 per cent in the June Quarter and up 6.6 per cent over the last twelve months. Average vendor discounting in Brisbane is down to 5.6 per cent, compared to 8.9 per cent in June 2013. Over the same period, average days on market in Brisbane have fallen from 90 to 59.
All free-to-air TV channels, in Toowoomba and suburbs including Wilsonton, Harlaxton, Redwood, Rangeville, Kearneys Spring and Darling Heights will change frequencies from Tuesday, 12th August.
Viewers in Top Camp, Withcott, Helidon Spa, parts of Kearney Spring and Hodgson Vale will need to retune on Thursday, 14th August.
Mt Mowbullan, Esk, Nanango and Yarraman towers retuned earlier in the year.
It is recommended residents check the retune website to see if their location is affected. The best way for viewers to find out when they are likely to need to retune is to visit the website and type in their address into the “get retune info†box or call the Digital Ready Information Line on 1800 20 10 13, 8am to 10pm (AEST), 7 days.
These moves will free up broadcasting spectrum so it can be used for new services such as mobile broadband.
Once the channels have moved, viewers will need to retune their digital TV, set-top box or digital TV recorder to get them back. Retuning is done using the remote. For most systems, viewers should press the ‘menu’ button on the remote, look for settings such as ‘channels’ or ‘auto-tuning’, then follow the prompts to retune. A video and 3-step guide to retuning is available on the website.
Viewers may wish to write down their favourite channel, program recordings or parental lock settings before they retune.
Key dates to remember:
Viewers who receive their reception from the D’Aguilar Highway tower will need to retune on the 22 August after 3:30pm
Outages could occur on 12 †15 August. Viewers will not need to retune again †the TV services will reappear once the work at the transmission site has been completed
Viewers who are having difficulty retuning their equipment should check their manufacturer’s handbook or manual for instructions on how to retune, ask a friend or family member to help, visit the retune website, or call the Digital Ready Information Line on 1800 20 10 13, 8am to 10pm (AEST), 7 days.
Submitted by: Australian Government Department of Communications
Homes and businesses in parts of Toowoomba have less than one month to arrange to switch their landline phone and internet services over to the National Broadband Network (NBN) before most existing landline phone and internet services in those areas are replaced with services over the NBN.
For the first time in South-East Queensland, services over the NBN are scheduled to replace most existing landline phone and internet services in parts of Toowoomba from 28 August 2014.*
President of Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce, Andrew Wielandt had previously drawn attention that many businesses were still oblivious to the fact that they could be left without the most basic of telephone communication as of August 29th. “Frankly, I and the business community have found the whole process underwhelming, to say the least. Toowoomba has been an unwitting guinea pig in the rollout process,” Mr Wielandt said. “Everyone equates the NBN to just high speed broadband. It is not! It is also telephony services and I believe NBN Co have done a poor job in presenting this message.”
In an effort to create a better bridge between business and NBN Co, Ryan Williams (left) and Andrew Wielandt (right) have met at Workwear Discounts, one of the first businesses to be connected to the fibre network in Toowoomba.
Workwear Discounts owner Bernie Baz says his NBN connection through iiNet has significantly enhanced the way he does business. “Once over initial teething problems the fast and reliable internet connection has improved the online experience for our customers, allowing us to create and maintain individual web stores for our major corporate clients, Mr Baz said. “We were recently able to turn around an online order for 3,000 custom embroidered garments and deliver them within four business days †this would have been impossible prior to our NBN connection. It has also allowed us to explore flexible working opportunities. We currently have a staff member effectively working from Berlin using a handset which he took with him from the store” (Pictured above-Bernie Baz shows Andrew Wielandt his NBN handset).
Ryan Williams from NBN Co stated “The move to the NBN is not automatic. Residents and businesses who want to keep using their existing landline phone and internet services must place an order for services over the NBN with their preferred phone company or internet service provider as soon as possible. As long as an order has been received before 28 August 2014, their services should not be disrupted. We are particularly urging people with special equipment including EFTPOS terminals and medical and security alarms which operate using a landline phone connection to check with their preferred service provider about moving these services across to the NBN.
You can find out whether you are in the switchover area or eligible to connect to the NBN as well as more information about the steps you need to take to make the switch by visiting nbnco.com.au/switch.
Mr Williams said NBN Co is continuing to engage with the Toowoomba community at events including:
Peace, harmony, goodwill and a day of family fun is in store at Sunday’s ninth Toowoomba Languages and Cultures Festival in Queens Park from 10am to 4pm. Under the banner ‘One World, Many Faces’, the festival highlights the thriving and diverse language and cultural groups who live across the Toowoomba region and southern Queensland. An opening ceremony, with a Welcome to Country and a Mayoral greeting from Cr Paul Antonio, starts from 11.30am
Toowoomba Regional Council Tourism and Events portfolio leader Cr Geoff McDonald said the event is an inclusive community celebration of the region’s many different nationalities. Cr McDonald said the promise of travelling around the world for $5 could be satisfied on Sunday given the many different groups that will perform and the chance to try food from more than two dozen international food stall stalls. “The best way to learn about different cultural groups and their respective traditions is to experience a sample of their hospitality first-hand,†Cr McDonald said. Three stages will offer hours of colourful dancing and vibrant music from school groups and ethnic performers along with roving entertainment. A new exhibition lane, ‘From the Lands of Time’ will display artists’ works, including a peace dove and ribbon creation.
Visitors can browse the stands at the Health and Wellness Expo as well as the languages, school and community displays. Other areas are given over to an activities marquee, martial arts demonstrations and the USQ marquee, with displays covering archaeology, languages, history, a poet’s corner and creative writing. The festival offers a great deal of education and information about services and different providers in the region who support these activities. “Children will enjoy amusement rides, camel rides, an animal farm and see reptile demonstrations at 11am, 1pm and 3pm.
Performances will feature Maori headline act Te Whanau Tautoko (left), Indian music, Solomon Islands dance, Middle Eastern dance, Rubatuba European Street Music group, Bollywood dancers, Nepalese folk dance, Bangladesh music and dancers, Filipino dancers, a Celtic choir, Taiko drummers and a Caledonian Pipe Band amongst others.
Rubatuba-TLCTai Chi displays, exercises by the Falun Dafa group, zumba, bellydance demonstrations, sets from the Women in Harmony choir and school dance performances showcasing Papua New Guinea, Bollywood, Indonesian and Bangladeshi styles will be on show.
Entry is $5 for adults with children allowed free entry. More information is available at the Toowoomba International Multicultural Society website at www.tims.org.au
Submitted by:
Angus Moffatt Media Relations Officer Stakeholder Engagement and Communication Toowoomba Regional Council
While Toowoomba’s critically acclaimed gardens and the Grand Central Floral Parade remain at the heart of this world-leading celebration(September 19 to 28, 2014) the Carnival has morphed over its 65-year history into a festival of food and wine, fashion and the arts, music that crosses all genres, design, masterclasses and more.
The men helping make it happen-Ross Begent and Simon Underwood from Council’s Tourism and Events Branch
The 2014 Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers will feature more than 17 events across 21 venues, starring 130 performers, including five chefs, headlined by Alive and Cooking’s Chef James Reeson along with ABC TV Gardening Australia gardening guru Josh Byrne.
In the Heritage Bank Live Concert Series Australian legends Icehouse and Deborah Conway headline an all-star line-up including Killer Queen, 90’s star rock band Something for Kate and Australian breakthrough bands The Kite StringTangle, Saskwatch and San Cisco, as well as Jeremy Neale, Tim Campbell’s High School Disco and music and dance sensations Justice Crew.
Dorothy the Dinosaur will be making star appearances and Animatronic dinosaurs will make their home in Grand Central Shopping Centre, sometimes escaping to roam the city streets.
Cr Nancy Summerfield and Greg Johnson at the launch
Toowoomba Region Mayor Paul Antonio said the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers was Australia’s longest running horticultural event for good reason †because, like a good garden, it continued to evolve and nurture new elements, new areas and new experiences. “This is one of the most exciting programs we have ever staged,” he said.
“It perfectly merges incredible local and national talent, both in the garden and on the stage, and showcases the wonderful local produce we have on offer in the region.”
Cr Geoff McDonald with his Carolyn Taylor-Smith designed Carnival Jacket
Tourism and Events portfolio leader Cr Geoff McDonald said residents and visitors would be spoilt for choice during a fabulous spring festival. “The floral masterpieces on show in The Chronicle Home Garden competition, the exhibition gardens and the city’s civic parks remain a spectacular drawcard right through spring. These incredible gardens and parks are the heartbeat of the Carnival, they were the reason this event was given life in 1950, and they remain pivotal to its ongoing success,” Cr McDonald said.
“Last year, Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers had 117,000 people attend our events, with 62,851 people from outside our region.
During 2012 and 2013 we strategically targeted to extend our tour market with groups travelling from Queensland and New South Wales and a large growth from Mackay and Cairns. The results were amazing with 58,850 people staying two to three nights and 12,123 staying four to five nights.
“With an economic return of $26.6 million last year this means business for our city, for our hotels and restaurants and much more,” Cr McDonald said.
Also at the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers launch at the Cube Hotel, 18-year-old university student Libby Coghlan was introduced as the 2014 Carnival Ambassador.
The former St Ursula’s College student, Libby said she was overwhelmed to win the prestigious title.
“I’ve enjoyed attending past Carnivals and have been involved in the parade with the Toowoomba School of Dance,” she said. “I was happy to enter the Ambassador program and see how I might be able to have a greater personal involvement in the festival. I have an interest in event management and am keen to see how a big event like Carnival works behind the scenes.”
A current Bachelor of Arts and Business student at the University of Southern Queensland, Libby has a passion for dancing. She has a Level IV Diploma in Vocational Graded Examination in Dance: Advanced 2 (Ballet) and Graded Examination in Ballet: Grade 8.
Since 2008 she has choreographed and performed in Toowoomba’s Christmas Wonderland and also has participated in and helped aspiring dancers performing in Benecke’s Music Academy Concert. Her other community work has included helping at fundraisers such as the Blue Ball and Diabetes Day Out.
Libby’s strong interest in cultural activities also has seen her working with Toowoomba singer Josh Arnold’s Small Town Culture project, which encourages children to sing and dance.
Submitted by: Angus Moffatt Media Relations Officer Stakeholder Engagement and Communication Toowoomba Regional Council
Hello, this is Greg Johnson, one of a small group of very privileged people who gather together each week to plan for the monthly Margaret Street Markets in the Toowoomba CBD between Neil and Ruthven Streets.
The markets are held on the first Sunday in each month – in August they will be held on Sunday, 3rd August.
Our ambition is being fulfilled and that is to bring people back to the beautiful places in the CBD. We want these markets to represent the toil of local producers and local craftspeople and gradually we are achieving that goal.
We are delighted that many more local shop owners are now opening for business on market day and next Sunday you can expect to see over 200 with their doors open. So not only can you shop for bargains at the markets but you can also visit many fashion houses, boutiques, restaurants, coffee houses and pubs. Toowoomba’s Margaret Street Markets †fabulous location, fabulous food and crafts and fabulous people.
I look forward to seeing you there -8.00am to 2.00pm this Sunday.
Toowoomba Hockey Association will host the upcoming 2014 Australian Men’s and Women’s Country Championships, to be held on August 2nd †9th.
The 8 day tournament will be held at the Toowoomba Hockey Centre at Clyde Park at 564 â€Â 582 Boundary Road.
This year’s Championships will see Men’s and Women’s Country teams from New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia, Victoria, Queensland and the Australian Defence Force compete for the 2014 title.
Toowoomba Hockey President Steve Stewart said, “Toowoomba Hockey is very excited to be hosting a National event at our grounds; it’s a great event for Toowoomba as a city as well the hockey community!â€Â
The tournament in 2013 was won by New South Wales in both the Men’s and Women’s competitions.
Toowoomba Regional Council Mayor, Paul Antonio has announced a community event will be held in Toowoomba to remember those lost through the MH17 disaster, and to celebrate the contribution Roger and Jill Guard made to the local community. “There has been a deep community response to this terrible tragedy and it’s important that we come together to express our grief and offer support and sympathy for the Guard family,†Mayor Antonio said. “Council is working with the Guard family to remember all those who have been affected but especially Roger and Jill Guard, as two of our own.
“Both Drs Roger and Jill were involved not only in the strong medical community we have here in Toowoomba, but more broadly in a range of community service and social groups.â€Â
The event will be held Sunday, August 3 at 2.30pm at the Empire Theatre, Neil Street, Toowoomba.
On the day, due to parking restrictions, a free shuttle service will be offered for attendees.  The buses will leave from Toowoomba Grammar School where parking will be available via the Margaret Street entrance.
Buses will leave from the internal Grammar School bus stop at 1.30pm and 2.00pm and will return at the conclusion of the event.
REIQ Acting CEO Antonia Mercorella said the Review reflected increased buyer confidence and a sense of optimism about the prospects of local real estate. “These are the figures many vendors have been waiting for – shorter days on market, significantly reduced vendor discounting and increased buyer competition,†she said.
