Redlynch residents raise concerns over proposed development application
Resident safety and a perceived potential conflict of interest surrounding a proposed development application were among the top concerns Redlynch residents raised with Cairns Regional Council. See the plans.
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Resident safety and a perceived potential conflict of interest surrounding a proposed development application were among the top concerns Redlynch residents raised with Cairns Regional Council.
About 150 Redlynch residents and stakeholders voiced strong opposition to a development application seeking preliminary approval to change a rural zone area to an industrial zone, at the Red Beret Hotel on Monday night.
Resident safety and flood impacts were among the key concerns raised by attendees.
Redlynch resident Margaretha Koper said she was concerned about the impact of the proposed 80mm infill development on the proposed site.
“Once they create the infill, you have a finite amount of water that puts the creek up to 80cm,” Ms Koper said.
“That in itself is already a stupid premise because the blockage of bridges contributes to the water surge that comes down and if trees come down, it changes the (water) flow properties and that means you get a little dip because you have kind of a dam.”
The proposed development, put forward by Landowner and applicant Bengali Land, run by North Queensland developer Pat Flanagan, is pushing to transform part of the Redlynch Intake Road property, which is currently home to the Crystal Cascades Horse Park and zoned rural, into a “low impact” industrial precinct.
Of particular concern to some attendees at the meeting was a perceived potential conflict of interest on Mr Flanagan’s part as he was the chair of the council’s planning and development and industry reference group at the time his development application was submitted.
Council chief executive John Andrejic and town planner Ed Johnson said Mr Flanagan had stood down from his position on the board while the application process on the development was under review.
“In relation to the complaints received, the preliminary assessment is council officers don't have a conflict of interest in this matter,” Mr Andrejic said.
“Mr Flanagan has chosen to step down while he has a live application.”
Other concerns raised included the project’s potential environmental impact on endangered fauna and flora, including native frogs and cassowaries, traffic congestion, community character and waterway strain.
Mr Flanagan declined to comment directly on residents concerns, but said he had stepped aside from his position in the planning and development and industry reference group, to ensure there would be no conflict of interest with his application.
“My involvement (in the group) amounts to 12 hours a year in that we have four meetings that last three hours,” Mr Flanagan said.
“The group discusses long term strategies but doesn’t make recommendations or decisions.
“I lodged the application and declared I had an application and stood down once I submitted it.”
Residents also raised concerns about the safety of the road leading into the Redlynch Valley and the apparent lack of maintenance.
In addition to local traffic, residents raised concerns on how the road would be modified or maintained to support increased commercial traffic.
Resident Ken Dalton said the issue was particularly prominent following flooding in 2018 and Cyclone Jasper in December when residents were given notice to evacuate three hours after they were impacted by flash flooding.
“We have one road in, one road out,” Mr Dalton said.
“Roads were cut three to four hours prior to any Cairns emergency evacuation (alerts), after the roads were flooded and Currunda Creek particularly.”
Mr Dalton said the council had approved a Redlynch Valley housing development, where most attendees now live, but needed to provide safe entry and exit out of the suburb.
“There are thousands of people down there but (council) have not, and are not affording a safe entry and exit given the challenges we face of flooding and landslides,” he said.
Mr Andrejic and Mr Johnson encouraged residents to submit feedback on the development to Cairns Regional Council.
Submissions will close at 5pm on July 12.
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Originally published as Redlynch residents raise concerns over proposed development application
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