Council moves to quell unease on popular sport and park precinct plan

Brisbane City Council insists the community will have more chance to have their voice heard on draft plans for the overhaul of a popular 52-hectare sport and parkland precinct in the city’s north.

The move comes as residents rallied in a section of the sprawling Enoggera Creek Creek Sport and Recreation Precinct on Saturday to air their anger at the council’s handling of the process, potential loss of green space and displacement of sporting groups.

Residents rallied at a section of the sprawling Enoggera Creek Creek Sport and Recreation Precinct on Saturday.

Initial plans for the 52-hectare Enoggera Creek Sport and Recreation Precinct were released by the council in March, more than two years after the idea was first floated in an earlier consultation period.

The council then met with leaseholders for feedback on the draft late last year before opening public consultation on March 15. That feedback period has now been extended until April 30.

Dr Cedric Chu, a member of the Enoggera Creek Precinct Residents Advisory Group, described the Easter holiday consultation period as “disingenuous”.

“The plan turns much of our beautiful green spaces into car parking or sporting grounds that lock out the public. While we acknowledge there needs to be parking solutions in the area, the environment and residents’ home lives should not be sacrificed to accommodate it,” he said.

“Once we lose this precious green space in inner city Brisbane, we will never get it back. We are calling for local politicians and town planners to initiate a public forum to help kick off a more comprehensive consultation process with residents.”

The council has received more than 1500 responses to its online survey around the plans. All community clubs will be offered one-on-one meetings with their councillor, along with an invitation to a further roundtable meeting.

Community feedback will be reviewed ahead of an anticipated release of the final version in “mid-2021”, the council’s website states.

Enoggera ward LNP councillor Andrew Wines said the draft plan was in no way final and encouraged everyone interested to have their say.

“We’re in consultation on the first draft and will continue working with the community every step of the way to ensure all the feedback shapes the proposed designs,” he said.

The council’s Labor Opposition Leader Jared Cassidy said residents trying to have their say on development issues needed to be heard.

Start your day informed

Our Morning Edition newsletter is a curated guide to the most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up to The Sydney Morning Herald’s newsletter here, The Age’s here, Brisbane Times’ here, and WAtoday’s here.