Council to withdraw package of 139 planning amendments over lifestyle and environment concerns

A COUNCIL north of Brisbane has withdrawn a package of more than 130 changes to its planning scheme, amid concerns over how an ‘unprecedented’ amendment could impact on the legal rights of landowners.

Chris Thompson, LNP candidate for Pine Rivers 2017, pictured with sign made by Warner residents to alert neighbours to the Warner Investigation Area.

A PACKAGE of more than 130 changes to the Moreton Bay planning scheme, including the Warner Investigation Area (WIA), will be withdrawn by Moreton Bay Regional Council.

Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastucture and Planning Cameron Dick confirmed today that Council CEO Daryl Hitzman wrote to his Department on August 15 advising of its intention to withdraw the amendments.

“I am pleased the Council has said they will withdraw their major amendment,” Mr Dick said.

“The amendment proposed by council was unprecedented.

“There were very significant concerns that it would impact on the legal rights of landowners and was inconsistent with planning laws.”

Warner residents Nicole and Nick Paul are worried their semirural acreage area will become suburbia if plans for the Warner Investigation Area are adopted by Moreton Bay Regional Council.

Councillors at the December 14 co-ordination committee meeting, approved a package of 139 amendments that included a wide range of changes from rezoning major future urban residential areas across the region to making it easier for residents to approve a new garage or shed.

“It sets out how we can accommodate our region’s growing population,” director of planning Stewart Pentland said at the meeting.

The amendments had to be ticked off by the State Government before being implentmented.

They will next go to a council meeting where councillors will vote on how to proceed.

“We don’t have the legal ability to withdraw without a resolution from Council,” a council spokesman said.

“We are awaiting an agreement with the State Department on a way forward, for the councillors to consider.”

Member for Pine Rivers Nikki Boyd welcomed the decision to withdraw the amendment package and congratulated residents who had fought against it.

Warwick Mendham from community group opposing major development at Warner in 2017. (AAP/Richard Walker)

“This amounts to a fantastic win,” she told Pine Rivers Press.

“Our community has expressed a number of major issues with the WIA aspect of the plan.

“Last election, I promised our community I’d advocate for a number of commitments for WIA, I remain committed to those.

“I encourage the council to enact their withdrawal promptly so our community can be provided certainty.”

She said the process has made it clear the community and State Government expected better.

“I congratulate the community members who have taken a stand for our environment and sustainable planning,” she said.

Mr Dick said his department gave clear advice that he could not approve the council’s proposed amendments.

“The appropriate course would be for me to reject it,” he said.

Sign alerting residents at Cr Paddy Rd and Pauli CRT, Warner Investigation Area

“The council has been informed of this and the Mayor (Allan Sutherland) agreed with us that it was best to withdraw the major amendment.”

It is understood that industry leaders such as the UDIA and the Property Council Australia raised significant concerns with the Moreton Bay Regional Council about the proposed amendments.

There were significant concerns over provisions relating to infrastructure arrangements, particularly in the Warner Investigation Area.

There were also concerns over the threat to koala habitat and the impact on wildlife corridors that the proposed changes would have brought on.

State Labor Mp for Bancroft Chris Whiting said he also welcomed the council’s decision to withdraw the proposed amendments.

“I hope they can now work with the State Government to create a set of workable planning regulations,” he said.

“We need the council to play its part in helping create affordable housing in my electorate, and provide certainty for those investing in development proposals.”