Habitat is an +800 lot master planned community located on the northern side of Toowoomba. The greenfield development features residential lots across multiple precincts, commercial lots, and a government precinct that will provide water security for the region for the next 50 years.
RMA was responsible for all aspects of the master planning, including civil, stormwater and traffic engineering inputs. This included a preliminary and development approval for the 146ha site. The site posed significant engineering challenges stemming from the site’s steep landscape and external road upgrades in a TMR corridor.
RMA collaborated with TMR to determine suitable outcomes for the conversion of the existing New England Highway and Murphys Creek Road intersection. The works included upgrading the existing T-intersection into a 4-way signalised intersection that is now used as the primary access for the development. The new intersection leg crosses an existing trunk raw water mains supplying raw water to Council’s Mt Kynoch Water Treatment Plant, requiring suitable protection measures to be put in place.
Our Civil team undertook an options analysis for sewer serviceability for the overall site. The final solution included gravity sewer through the development to the bottom of the site, with a sewage pumping station and rising main crossing Gowrie Creek. RMA worked with Aquatec to deliver the sewer pump station, and provided the engineering for the Gowrie Creek sewer bridge crossing.
The stormwater management plan included 1D and 2D hydrologic and hydraulic modelling to determine any likely stormwater impacts on downstream properties or road infrastructure. The analysis also assessed stormwater detention requirements for the entire development.
Construction of the first stage of the development was completed in April 2025, and the second stage of the development is currently under construction.