Brisbane City Council claims stealth tactics in play for Upper Kedron development

UPDATE: A war of words has erupted between a state MP and a Brisbane City councillor, who has accused the State Government of forcing council to increase housing density of a controversial development by 50 per cent.

The proposed Cedar Woods development at Upper Kedron, in Brisbane’s north-west.

STATE Government Minister Kate Jones has strongly rejected claims she helped increase the housing density of a controversial development “by stealth”.

Brisbane City Council planning boss Councillor Julian Simmonds said the State Government had directed council to increase housing density in the Upper Kedron neighbourhood plan by 50 per cent.

Upper Kedron includes the Cedar Woods development, which made headlines during the 2015 state election after local member Kate Jones promised to have it called in.

Ms Jones, who beat then-premier Campbell Newman for the Ashgrove seat, said 980 lots for the development was too dense.

The project was called in following the Labor Party taking government, with Planning Minister Jackie Trad ordering council to redo its Upper Kedron neighbourhood plan.

Council sent an amended draft neighbourhood plan to the State Government for review at the end of last year.

Cr Simmonds told the council chamber today the State Government had returned the draft, directing council to increase the density for the area before it was sent out for community consultation. It is understood the changes relate to bushfire risk mitigation.

Cr Simmonds said this would have the effect of “dramatically increasing the number of lots and dwellings” on the Cedar Woods site from 980 dwellings to 1500.

“The State Government changes can be labelled as nothing short than blatant repudiation of the community’s wishes for this site,” Cr Simmonds said.

He accused Ms Jones of increasing the lot numbers “by stealth behind the community’s back”.

“It’s now clear that Minister Jones’ promises to the community are literally not worth the paper that they are written on because far from undertaking her commitment to reduce dwelling densities, they have in fact increased them by 50 per cent,” Cr Simmonds said.

Ms Jones, who said the State Government had no powers to dictate how many lots were contained in a neighbourhood plan, described the claims as “complete and utter crap”.

“I have been 100 per cent consistent in saying I do not think our local infrastructure can support the new plan released by council to expand the urban footprint at Upper Kedron,” Ms Jones said.

“It is their plan that expands the urban footprint. It is council that develops the local plan. It is council that puts the local plan out. All the State Government does is endorse them to have the opportunity to put it public consultation.”

Ms Jones said she encouraged local residents to “once again register their deep rejection of this plan, which our local roads won’t cope with.”