Mitchelton residents rally to stop Uniting Church bushland housing estate

Residents in Brisbane's north are rallying as part of a campaign to stop plans by the Uniting Church to subdivide a former chicken farm despite the late owner’s wishes.

Almost 400 people have rallied to oppose plans by the Uniting Church to develop a former chicken farm in Brisbane’s north into a 91-lot housing estate.

A development application over Greg Hungerford’s former property on Kooya Rd at Mitchelton has sparked 16 formal objections and more than 370 signatures on a change.org petition.

Last month 40 residents held a meeting to discuss their next moves to block the plan.

“There is overwhelming unhappiness in the community,” resident Paul Cavallaro said.

Mr Cavallaro said the meeting discussed what action the community might take, including potential legal action, while some residents who knew Mr Hungerford talked about how his final wish was to retain the property as a bush reserve.

Development site location on Kooya Road.

“There is a lot of unhappiness for a few reasons,’’ Mr Cavallaro said.

“The local politicians will be receiving a few calls and emails.

“Once (the land) is gone, it’s gone, so we’re going to do what we can now.”

But the Uniting Church has defended the proposal, saying funds raised would help its charitable works.

“The initial intent of Mr Hungerford’s will was to sell the property to Brisbane City Council but negotiations with the Brisbane City Council were unsuccessful,’’ a Uniting Church spokeswoman said.

Hungerford Farm may be the site of a new residential development

“Five years after Mr Hungerford’s passing, the trustees of the estate sold the property to Uniting Church of Australia Property Trust in 2020.

“After the church acquired the Kooya Rd property (we) explored whether it could be developed to provide social services, such as aged care.

“But given the site’s constraints, the proposed land use is for residential development.”

Current development next to Hungerford Farm

The Uniting Church said the project involved a similar level of density and style to nearby estates on Kooya Rd and Ironbark Pl.

If council approved the plans, a public park would be created which the Uniting Church said would open “this site up to the local community for the first time in generations”.

The property had previously been held by the Hungerford family since the 1920s.