Councillors reject an application from Ausbuild for high density development in Warner

Community members were today “elated” after council’s surprise decision over a controversial high density development proposal

KOALAS and residents in Warner had a massive win today after an application by Ausbuild to establish high density development in their suburb was rejected.

With an election looming and the spotlight on the eight councillors up for re-election in March, all 11 councillors present took the unexpected decision to side with the community over a developer, unanimously rejecting the application.

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This was also against the council planners’ recommendation to approved the application with conditions.

Though some councillors only begrudgingly rejected the application after it became clear which way the vote would go.

Save Our Community Warner spokeswoman Christine West said residents were “absolutely elated” with the council’s decision.

“We would like to see more rural residential development through there, to protect our lifestyle,” she said.

“This sends a message straight to the state government.

“We want best practice in development for this region. We will not accept anything less.”

State Member for Pine Rivers Nikki Boyd congratulated the residents in achieving “responsible and sustainable progress for our community.”

“It is clear that community want a genuine voice in the type of potential development that will be made in our backyards and consideration for our biodiversity is at the heart of that,” she said.

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Ms Boyd has also written to Environment Minister Leanne Enoch requesting that Warner be considered as a showcase site for the koala conservation strategy.

During today’s meeting though, council spokesman for planning Cr Mick Gillam (Div 8) warned residents in the gallery that the matter would most likely end up in the planning court.

He said there was a chance that the outcome from the courts might be worse for those residents who were against the application, than had the council approved this application.

An Ausbuild spokesman declined to comment on the outcome of the meeting.

Retiring Division 6 councillor Koliana Winchester was first to speak on the development and set the tone for what was to come.

“If it’s 10 or 20 trees (being knocked down) it doesn’t matter. What matters is this is (koalas’) habitat. They have been living in those trees for a long time,” she said.

“For a developer to want to develop in that area, we’ve got to be really mindful of allowing this in an area that is very sensitive.”

Cr Denise Sims, Div 7, referred to the 176 submissions made against the development by residents, and the zero submissions in favour of it, stating she agreed with some of the concerns raised.

These included the proposed koala fencing and the wellbeing on a protected species of frog that lives on the site, the Wallum froglet.

Cr Sims later said she would

Mayor aspirant and current Division 2 councillor Peter Flannery raised several concerns with the application about the lack of a traffic report and the suitability of high density lots in that area.

“There were 184 submissions (including those not properly made) for this and it tells us what the community thinks about this development,” he said.

“I have major concerns with this moving forward. I can’t support this in it’s current form.”

Cr Brook Savige (Div 1) said the application would put koalas in that area at further risk over the increased population.

Cr Matt Constance (Div 10) reiterated concerns over the Wallum froglet, but also questioned the relevance of current assessment benchmarks.

Cr Adam Hain said approval of the site would set a precedent for the whole area to become next generation, saying that type of high density development should only be established nearer to transport hubs.

“That’s what it was meant to do and we are partly responsible for allowing it (in other areas),” he said.

“This site is far too isolated to allow next generation.”

Cr Darren Grimwade (Div 11) said putting this type of development in an area far from community infrastructure would only cause problems for future councils.

Cr Charlton (Div 9) said this application and the nearby development application by CSR on its Warner quarry demonstrated what the community now accepted in terms of engagement — calling CSR’s community engagement “best practice”.

“I’ll support my colleagues around the table and support the community on this matter,” he said.

In the end, councillors rejected the application for “flora and fauna impacts, traffic, visual amenity, community infrastructure and town planning” reasons.