Moreton Bay Council is working on a plan to protect the region from ‘unplanned development’

A plea to put residents before developers has been heard with a southeast Queensland council vowing to “protect our communities” from poor planning decisions.

EXCLUSIVE

A SOUTHEAST Queensland council may well be entering a new era of actually listening to community concerns over inappropriate development.

Moreton Bay Council is preparing a strategy to “protect our communities” from unplanned development and poor planning decisions across the region.

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Woody Point resident Shane Murphy addressed last week’s council meeting, asking for the immediate protection of suburbs such as his, in order to prevent any further “gold rush fever” behaviour from developers.

My Murphy highlighted a recently approved a 47.1m high tower development at the old Palace Hotel site, 26m higher than allowed for in the council’s own planning scheme.

Derek Caccerall poses for a photograph with neighbours of the development site bounded by Kate Street, Lilla Street, and Gayundah Esplanade in Woody Point, Friday, November 29, 2019 (AAP Image/Richard Walker)

Soon after that was approved, another application was lodged for a 44m tower block right across from the first one, with the obvious precedent already set.

Though this second application was withdrawn just days after a petition was presented to the council calling for it to be rejected.

Mr Murphy said the cumulative effect of tower developments at Woody Point would “obliterate the existing skyline profile” and destroy a highly desirable destination for “a quick sugar hit of economic activity”.

He called for interim planning controls to be introduced that would enforce the existing planning scheme of 2016, until a new scheme could be introduced likely several years from now.

Another Woody Point resident Julia Nuske echoed the sentiment in her address to the council, stating the “reasonable expectations of the community” were not being heard.

Concept image for proposed unit development at 1 Lila St, Woody Point.

She said an already approved “seven-storey big brown box with no water views” on Alfred St was completely out of character with the area.

She said the excuse that the developer might appeal a council decision in the Planning and Environment Court was not a valid reason to approve inappropriate developments.

“Newly elected councillors have an opportunity for a fresh start in line with community expectations, putting residents before developers with the opportunity to rebuild the shattered trust and lack of confidence of many Moreton Bay residents and ratepayers,” Ms Nuske said.

Temporary Local Planning Instruments such as that suggested by Mr Murphy were possible, but were subject to strict tests and ministerial approval.

Palace Hotel development site bounded by Kate Street, Lilla Street, and Gayundah Esplanade in Woody Point. (AAP Image/Richard Walker)

Mayor Peter Flannery told Quest Community News that until any future changes to the planning scheme could be made, the council was enacting a Regional Growth Management Strategy that would sequence development at a pace the region could absorb.

“Because I want kids, like my five-year-old daughter Sophia, to grow up enjoying the opportunities we created, not living with the consequences of our poor planning,” Cr Flannery said.

He said the planning scheme needed to be reviewed and this would begin after the 2020/21 Budget was completed.

Woody Point bounded by Woodcliffe Crescent, Lilla Street, and Oxley Avenue looking west from Lilla Street, Friday, November 29, 2019 (AAP Image/Richard Walker)

“I’ve made it an election commitment to review our planning mechanisms and the councillors have all agreed we must make addressing these concerns a priority,” he said.

“The question is how we can preserve the character of areas like Woody Point while also providing for the massive population growth our region is experiencing, to ensure our infrastructure and lifestyle isn’t negatively impacted.

“That’s why community comments, like we heard today, are so useful and I thank today’s speakers.

“We need to rework our Planning Scheme to meet the expectations of locals, by implementing neighbourhood plans tailored to the unique qualities of our many distinct communities across Moreton Bay Region.”