Highfields Community Heart Project 2020 is Changing the Community’s Public Places and Spaces

Highfields District Business Connections (HDBC) has established a Steering Group for the purpose of creating new community public spaces in the heart of Highfields. Operating under the working title Highfields Community Heart project 2020 it has already gained community endorsement and local, state and federal government in-principle support. Moving forward HCHeart project 2020 needs to steer a path through the Local Government planning process, align with the Draft Highfields local plan, deliver on jobs and economic growth, funding and collaborative outcomes for its stakeholders.

In 2004 Highfields had an estimated population of 7,900* (*source TRC Feb 2017) when it was rapidly evolving as the must-see suburb in the then Crow’s Nest Shire. With the introduction of the Local Government (Reform Implementation) Act 2007 Highfields became part of the newly established Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC). Under this tenure Highfields has maintained its growth rate with an estimated population of 12,600 today.

In 2007 the founding members of the Highfields Better Business (HBB) realised that in order to build an economic environment for Highfields then it was essential to establish a local business support network with these capabilities. From 2007-2014 the unprecedented growth in Highfields drove the HBB to evolve further by expanding its networking activities to include all businesses in Highfields and surrounds and changing its name to Highfields District Business Connections (HDBC).

More recently in 2014/2015 the continuing evolution of Highfields has been driven by the establishment of two new secondary schools in the area. By end 2017 it is estimated that there will be 1,200 combined secondary students between the three high schools in Highfields. In 2016 when HDBC identified that certain social issues were emerging around students, safety and the aged it adopted a pro-active advocacy community engagement role. As a result HDBC now spear-heads the HCHeart project 2020 which aims to introduce public and community spaces for all ages in the centre of Highfields and deliver jobs growth and economic outcomes in the process.

Mr Jim O’Dea President HDBC said “The strong support obtained so far for HCHeart project 2020 is commendable. We are totally focused on our end goal and consultative in our approaches with all key stakeholders, public officials and community and business leaders. Our Steering Group (under the guidance of Specialist Adviser Robert Prestipino from Vital Places) has achieved several milestones to date including: conducting a resident survey, facilitating a leader’s workshop, hosting a collaborative investment roundtable and engaging with the Federal Minister and federal and state representatives and officials. The single most significant achievement is the fact that this team of highly skilled and dedicated business owners has completed over 900 hours community engagement to date……surely this demonstrates a community wanting to be involved in its future”.

Specialist Advisor, Robert Prestipino said “There are several innovative aspects about the HCHeart project 2020 that position it as a best practice model. It is outcomes orientated and its connectivity networks ideally position it as an economic driver of regional significance. The outcomes of this Steering Group to date have raised the bar on how community initiatives can be lead; this is not a community waiting for government funding or intervention. This is a community taking and demonstrating leadership; this is a community taking responsibility for its future”.

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