New documents reveal council’s plan to establish more than 3000 housing lots at Warner

A controversial plan to reduce known koala habitat for high density housing has resurfaced leaving residents alarmed.

Warner residents have expressed concern over the potential resurrection of the 3000+ lot Warner Investigation Area. (AAP Image/Richard Walker)

A CONTROVERSIAL plan to reduce known koala habitat for high density housing has resurfaced leaving residents alarmed.

Plans to establish more than 3000 new dwellings in the Warner Investigation Area (WIA), home to an active koala population, were quashed in October 2018 by the state Planning Department.

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Planning Minister Cameron Dick rejected Moreton Bay Council’s proposed changes to its planning scheme that would have allowed the high density housing lots on land in WIA currently zoned rural residential.

A much lower 1300 lots has since been proposed in total by three developers – CSR, Mordar and Ausbuild.

However, letters sent by the council to CSR and Mordar just before Christmas revealed that it was still preparing for at least 3000 new high density residential lots in the WIA.

Early WIA documents stated the area could house about 3600 dwellings.

Warner resident Christine West questioned how the council could override a state direction.

“This is extremely concerning to us,” she said.

“At this time in Australian’s history when our koala population has suffered catastrophic losses, now is the time to act and ensure that the remaining pockets of habitat are protected and any infill development puts ‘best practice’ methodology in the design.”

Developer Ausbuild has plans for a 296-lot housing development on the north side of Warner Rd, known to be home to koalas.

It also has bought a number of properties in the area and has caveats on several large rural residential properties to the south of Warner Rd, dating as far back as 2014.

Ausbuild Warner Road Development proposed footprint.

“Ausbuild, as we all know, has bigger plans that it has not lodged yet but were included in their initial application,” Ms West said.

“To avoid referrals to the State as well as additional infrastructure charges, Ausbuild seems to be submitting its development in smaller stages.

“The additional land holdings that Ausbuild has are zoned rural residential and to my knowledge under the current planning scheme Ausbuild’s intended use is considered prohibited development.”

Acting mayor Mike Charlton said he understood the concerns of residents and would organise a meeting between residents, planners, the planning department and state members to discuss the matter.

“This will be my top priority as soon as staff return from leave next week,” he said.

“The traffic and transport engineers have assessed this against historical documents that don’t take into consideration the council’s current position or Minister Dick’s response to our planning scheme amendments.

“Council is currently assessing the development applications received to date and we will work to address the concerns submitted by residents.”

Ms West was also concerned about Ausbuild’s suggestion for a north/south road connection linking Warner and Kremzow Rds through the Mordar and Ausbuild developments.

“The community’s number one objective is to ensure wildlife corridors are protected and this proposed connection will trap koalas into a very small pocket of habitat, effectively wiping out the koalas caught there,” she said.

Ms West has lodged an official complaint with the council and the state government calling for an investigation into the WIA developments.

Ausbuild was not able to be contacted for comment.