State Government response on Brisbane City Council townhouse ban overdue

Brisbane’s city planning boss says it is “appalling” the State Government is officially overdue to respond to an emergency ban to stop townhouse developments in low density areas.

City Planning chair Matt Bourke says the State Government was delaying the council’s townhouse ban. Picture: AAP/Darren England

BRISBANE’S city planning boss says it is “appalling” the State Government was officially late to respond to an emergency ban to stop townhouse developments in low density areas.

The State Government hit back at Brisbane City Council, saying it was a “very complex” issue and it did not have enough information to respond.

Brisbane City Council introduced a Temporary Local Planning Institute (TLPI) to ban townhouses in low density residential land and sent it for State Government approval in February.

City Planning chair Matthew Bourke said under the Minister’s own guidelines and rules as outlined in the Planning Act, a response must be given within 20 business days.

“This TLPI is now four days overdue,” he said on Tuesday.

Cr Bourke said it was “absolutely appalling” that the state “continued to delay the initiative”.

“The State Government is playing politics with a clear decisive action item that came out of the Brisbane Future Blueprint which we expected to see bipartisan support on,” he said.

“Enough is enough, the Minister needs to make a decision and get out of the way.”

The townhouse ban is one of many “actions” in the Brisbane Future Blueprint document.

The emergency measure was meant to protect low density land while the council’s proposed amendment on the same issue goes through the process of becoming law.

The State Government has also not yet responded to that proposed amendment.

A spokeswoman for Minister for Infrastructure and Planning Cameron Dick said Cr Bourke was part was part of the LNP council that had “15 years to get planning right”.

“The delays in making a decision-making around this TLPI have been as a result of Council’s delay in providing sufficient information for the Minister to make a decision, despite repeated requests,” she said.

“This is a very complex issue and it’s important all relevant material is considered, to ensure the best outcomes for the community when it comes to housing choice, supply, diversity and affordability.”

She said the council would be advised of the Minister’s decision in due course.

Cr Bourke said he first wrote to the Minister about the council’s intentions on the townhouse ban eight months ago, and insisted the council had provided the information requested.

Brisbane City council wants to ban townhouses in low density residential areas. Picture: FILE

BRISBANE CITY COUNCIL TOWNHOUSE BAN TIMELINE

JUNE 8, 2018: Graham Quirk first announces the council would ban townhouses in low density areas as part of the release of Brisbane’s Future Blueprint

SEPTEMBER 4, 2018: Brisbane City Council votes to prepare the an amendment to enshrine the townhouse ban in the Brisbane City Plan, which needs State Government approvals to progress

OCTOBER 23, 2018: The council’s Labor opposition makes an urgency motion that the council implement a TLPI to ban townhouses until the amendment is law, which the LNP votes against

FEBRUARY 4, 2019: The LNP council administration backflips and introduces its own TLPI to ban townhouses, sends it to the State Government for approval

FEBRUARY 19, 2019: City Planning chair Matthew Bourke accuses the State Government of holding up both amendment to the city plan and the emergency ban on townhouses

MAY 14, 2019: City Planning chair Matthew Bourke says it is “appalling” that a response on the council’s TLPI is officially four days overdue