Moreton Bay councillors will next week vote on development of a masterplan for Petrie mill site

A MASTERPLAN that will guide future development at the old paper mill site in Petrie will go to councillors next week for a vote.

The site of the Mill at Moreton Bay precinct before work began on the USC Moreton Bay campus.

A MASTERPLAN that will guide future development at the old paper mill site in Petrie will go to councillors next week for a vote.

Councillors were to this week vote on whether to produce a more detailed masterplan for the mill precinct that takes in a larger area than previous plans had.

But the matter was deferred to the next week’s council meeting.

While the masterplan is focused on the “Mill Central” section of the Priority Development Area (PDA), it will also consider connectivity options to other sections of the PDA.

Development scheme map showing the five different sections of the Mill at Moreton Bay PDA.

Mill Central is made up of parts of the Petrie CBD and land east of the rail line, between Yerri Creek and North Pine River, including the USC Moreton Bay campus.

The other PDA sections are Mill Innovation (north of Yerri Creek near the railway line); Mill Urban (south of North Pine River); Mill Transit (the north eastern area) and Mill Green (everything else).

The Petrie CBD was also not included in this masterplan, though connectivity across the railway line would be part of the study.

A proposed large-scale retail, office and student dorm development on the western side of the railway line, if approved, is in prime position to benefit from any improved connectivity between the mill precinct and the Petrie CBD.

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Former Petrie Paper Mill owner Orora meanwhile is still decontaminating the mill site, after hazardous PFAS chemicals had been detected in some areas.

The USC Moreton Bay campus has been given the all-clear with regards to any contamination, though other areas within Mill Central are still being decontaminated.

A council spokesman said decontamination of Mill Central was about 80 per cent completed.

The site would be revegetated once given the all-clear by the State Department of Environment.

The council meanwhile has appointed J Mac Constructions to build a $9 million regional park and sports oval on the mill site, dubbed “The Oval”.

It will be situated at the entrance to the site, on the right side of Paper Ave, opposite the university’s foundation building.

It will provide playing fields, barbecues, gathering spaces, picnic seating, gardens, outdoor movie opportunities and more.