Residents fight developer’s plan to build a new 300 home estate in a rural area
Residents are fighting to stop more than 300 homes being built in the middle of a rural area north of Brisbane that has limited water, no sewerage or traffic lights.
Moreton
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A developer hopes to transform 28 hectares of rural property into a new estate with 326 homes – despite the area not being connected to sewerage and a severe lack of infrastructure.
The Burpengary Estate by Cedar Woods Properties is proposed to be built along Hunt Road, north of Brisbane.
But long time residents are calling for council to put a hold on the development until a master plan for the area is done and more infrastructure is put in place.
Two development applications the first at 28-76 Hunt Road and the second for 76-100 Hunt Road were lodged with Moreton Bay Regional Council in July and August this year.
Combined it creates a 326 home estate.
The developer proposes to leave 30 per cent of the site as green space – including a park and environmental corridor.
Close to a hectare of koala trees, including Scribbly Gums will be knocked down to make way for the housing estate.
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The environmental report lodged with council states that five koalas were spotted during surveys along with koala scats under a number of trees.
It also found a “large number of hollows” in the area which could be used by a range of species including possums and birds.
It is proposed to be built in stages with Stage 1 including 45 lots, Stage 2, 45, 11 in Stage 3A and 47 in Stage 3B.
The second 169 lots will be built over Stages 4-7.
Under the council planning scheme, adopted in 2016, the area is part of the Morayfield South emerging community area.
The scheme states the area, bounded by Sheepstation Creek Conservation Reserve to the west and Morayfield Road to the east, is suitable for future growth but that more infrastructure needed to be put in place before the “area can be fully developed”.
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As the proposed development is in line with the planning scheme residents will not be invited to have a say on the plan – nor will councillors vote on it.
The final decision rests with council officers.
Despite the development not yet being approved a website created for the new estate says a sales launch and construction is expected to start in the second half of 2021.
Reports lodged with council show the lot sizes will vary from 225sq m to 699 sqm, with an average size of 405sq m – a great deal smaller than the current acreage block homes along the road.
Greg Randall grew up in Burpengary and has lived on Hunt Road for 24 years.
He said when he bought the property he never imagined he could one day be living alongside a 300 home estate.
Mr Randall said he and his neighbours made submissions against the zoning, which allows this development, during the consultation period of the council’s planning scheme.
“Council was very pro development back then,” he said.
“While they claimed to do public consultation they had already made their mind up.”
Mr Randall said Hunt Road, Lindsay Road and surrounding streets were not equipped to deal with an extra 1000 plus cars a day.
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He said there are few signalised intersections – with motorists already having to wait up to 20 minutes to get through some intersections during peak times.
“There have been zero upgrades, there is no sewerage, we have adequate water for rural properties but not hundreds of more houses,” Mr Randall said.
“Poor old Burpengary is at capacity.”
Mr Randall said he was not against development entirely – instead calling for development that fitted in with the rural lifestyle.
“Here there is nothing within walking distance,” Mr Randall said.
“These drop-in, pop-up developments are not good for anybody, we are kilometres from anywhere.”
Mr Randall said he and other neighbours were preparing a petition – calling for Mayor Peter Flannery to put a hold on the development until a master plan for the area was done and infrastructure available.
Anyone interested in signing the petition can search Opposing Inappropriate Hunt Road Developments on Facebook.