One Logan councillor says Mayoral hopeful Luke Smith will lose votes if he supports high density rezoning

A PROPOSAL for high density housing in Logan City has two councillors at odds, with one saying it will cost the other his chance at the Mayoralty.

Housing development in the 'burbs

Battle lines have been drawn over a proposed high-density rezoning for Loganholme, with one Logan City councillor declaring it will cost one mayoral candidate the top job if he supports it.

Cr Darren Power (Division 10) said the new Loganholme draft plan proposed 1800 dwellings, mostly units, for about 5000 people in an area where there were now about 300 properties.

Logan City Cr Darren Power

Describing the plan as a “sardine city”, Cr Power predicted that if Cr Luke Smith, whose division covers the proposal and who is a mayoral candidate, voted in favour of the high-density rezoning there would be an electoral backlash.

“If Luke Smith supports this proposal it will cost him the mayoralty,” he said.

In response, Cr Smith said Cr Power was “entitled to his opinion”.

Mayoral hopeful and Logan City Cr Luke Smith

The area – bounded by Bryants Rd and the Pacific Highway, and between the new Woolworths development and the police station – is in Cr Smith’s Division 6.

Via email, Cr Smith said he had from the outset committed to supporting the views of directly affected residents that he represented in the area.

“And the overwhelming majority of these residents have asked me to support this plan,” he wrote.

Cr Power said this was the second plan for the area after an earlier concept from four years ago for up to 8000 people was rejected.

He was concerned as three blocks had already been approved for ­subdivision in the area that council was only going through the motions of a community consultation process.

“I think they feel it is a fait accompli, but I am not going to give up on this,” he said.

Cr Smith said more ­consultation had occurred on this plan than any other in his time at the council.

Loganholme resident Steve Rowland said if the rezoning was approved he would have 55 nieghbours instead of five.

He said his family bought their Torres St property in 1986 because they loved the proximity to schools, shops, sports fields, doctors and the freeway.

“This development will see a six-fold increase in dwellings and bring all the disruptions of living in a construction zone,” he said.

“At best this plan is a dog’s breakfast.”

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