Clearing almost 12 hectares of vegetation will make way for a new housing development that borders the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail

The new development will have enough space for 84 homes and borders the Brisbane Valley Rail Trail.

The development plan for a 11.75 hectare block of land in Fernvale.

Trees and vegetation will be cleared across 12 hectares in Fernvale to make way for a new housing development.

The vegetation clearing will make way for 84 new homes in a planned housing development on Volger Road at Fernvale.

While it’s only stage one of the developments, Somerset Regional Councillor Jason Wendt was not excited by the project.

“It doesn’t excite me to see this cleared,” he said.

“I’ve been contacted by multiple people across the road in the state about it … but it needs to be cleared to be developed.”

Somerset council approved a development permit for the lot in September 2016, with new house blocks to vary in size from 600m2 to 2088m2.

The development includes a local park 7200m2 in size and the development also borders the Brisbane Valley Rail trail.

Councillor Cheryl Gaedtke questioned the time frame between land clearing and vacant lots being marketed.

Director of Planning and Development Luke Hannan said it was up to the developer.

The vegetation at the site has been surveyed by Habitat Environment Management, who found various Eucalyptus varieties and Morton Bay Ash trees with the majority of trees considered juvenile.

Species survey revealed 20 different animals, including one reptile, 16 birds and two amphibian species.

On Wednesday, May 26, Somerset Regional Council approved the development application for vegetation clearing.