Outrage as ‘protected’ bush razed for Prince Charles Hospital car park

A major Brisbane hospital has bulldozed rare bushland for a car park despite it being protected. Ironically the local MP’s dad, also a politician for the area, announced a conservation lease in 1999.

The cleared bush and (inset) how the car park will look.

Northside residents and staff at Prince Charles Hospital are furious after rare bushland that was supposed to be protected by a 99-year conservation agreement was bulldozed for a car park.

Heavy equipment moved in last week to fell trees at the site and carved out an access road for machinery, felling several large Norfolk Island pines and other trees.

Ironically, the conservation agreement was announced in Parliament in 1999 by the father of local Stafford Labor MP Jimmy Sullivan.

His father Terry was the local MP at the time and told Parliament he had worked with Council for four years to protect the block, known as Benekes Bush.

Marchant Ward LNP Councillor Fiona Hammond described it as “environmental vandalism’’.

“Our community deserved much better than this appalling effort,’’ Cr Hammond said.

“Some of the trees in this area were more than 100 years old.

Heavy machinery at the cleared site this week.

“But with little or no consultation with locals, the State Government has torn them down just to provide temporary access to build a car park.

“I only hope local Labor MP Jimmy Sullivan is furiously raising this issue with his state colleagues given his father, Terry, championed the bushland’s protection.

“While I understand the need for more car parking at the hospital to relieve pressure on local streets, there are many alternative locations that should have been explored that did not impact our bushland.’’

Mr Sullivan was contacted for comment. When a hospital staffer also contacted him, he was emailed the same response Metro North Health sent to the Northside Chronicle.

A temporary site office at the works area.

Because the conservation agreement was voluntary there were no applicable penalties. Metro North also committed to revegetating some cleared areas.

“Access to car parking is a frequent concern raised by staff, patients and visitors at The Prince Charles Hospital,’’ a Metro North Executive Director, Kate Copeland, said.

“A new 1500 space multistorey car park will be built at TPCH as part of the Palaszczuk Government’s commitment to provide more access to parking, as well as cycling and end of trip facilities for the growing number of people accessing the hospital.

“To ensure safety and ease of access to the hospital for patients, visitors, staff and emergency vehicles, a dedicated temporary access road will be created for the construction period.

Artist's impression of the car park.

“The temporary access road and construction compound areas will be revegetated once the construction is complete.’’

Ms Copeland said only a small part of the cleared vegetation was in Benekes’s Bush. Ecological assessments in 2017 and in May this year found no protected flora or fauna, including koalas.

First Nations locals were “engaged with’’ and invited to forums on the project.

The car park will be finished next year. It was approved under a Ministerial Infrastructure Designation, which bypasses Council and limits appeal rights by residents.

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A hospital employee disputed claims from Metro North Health that locals and staff had been adequately consulted, saying many did not receive flyers, emails or other notification.

The first they knew about the clearing was when bulldozers moved on site.

They believed the access road clearing was excessive and they were unable to find published ecological or cultural reports.

Community consultation was held in May 2019, including a community information session, while flyers were distributed to neighbouring residences and businesses along the site boundary. But locals living further away and staff said they received no notification.

Parking revenue will go back to the hospital.

Terry Sullivan told Parliament in a speech in 1999 that Benekes Bush, on the southwestern boundary of the hospital, formed part of the only original bushland left in the northern suburbs.

Jimmy Sullivan in Question Time. His father, also a local MP, told Parliament in 1999 that he was proud to have secured a voluntary conservation agreement. Picture: Liam Kidston

“For the past four years Councillor Terry Hampson, a very dedicated environmentalist, and I worked with Neighbours of Huxtable Park, Men of Trees and other local groups to retain Benekes’s Bush for future generations,’’ Hansard recorded him as saying.

“I am pleased to have been at the ceremony at which the Health Minister Wendy Edmond and Councillor Terry Hampson signed a voluntary conservation agreement (VCA) which will protect that property for the next 99 years.

“I thank the (Environment) Minister, Rod Welford, for the efforts of his department and the contribution and support that they gave to bring about the VCA.

“I believe that it has been a win win, all round.

“It will provide not only a buffer for the heavy traffic on Webster and Rode roads, but also a beautiful outlook for patients who are recovering from cardiac medical services.