Rare city bushland facing its biggest threat

It’s a stone’s throw from one of Brisbane’s biggest shopping centres, but this rare bush block is in danger after miraculously surviving the bulldozer for decades.

Residents Sally and Bob Boyd are concerned Scouts Queensland will sell off a rare inner-city bushland block a stone’s throw from Indooroopilly Shopping Centre. Picture: AAP/Renae Droop

Residents hope a rare bush block a stone’s throw from Indooroopilly Shopping Centre can be saved from development.

Scouts Queensland has confirmed that, while not currently for sale, it was considering all options for its property portfolio including a full or partial sale of the Finney Rd site.

The land is in a poor state, much in need of weeding, but seven years ago Brisbane City Council gave a bushcare group a $30,000 grant to plant 3000 trees.

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Neighbour Sally Boyd hoped council would buy all or part of the land as it complied with all criteria for its Bush Acquisition Program.

Councillor James Mackay (Walter Taylor) said he had written to new Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner to consider a purchase but said it might not qualify, as land needed to be of citywide significance.

“It would be an extreme shame if it was sold. I hope any purchaser would be sensible,’’ he said.

Scouts Queensland general manager Dougal Mayor confirmed the Finney Rd site was one of several properties currently being “looked at’’.

“We’re looking for the best future options but have not made any specific decisions on any sites,’’ he said.

“We have a large number of properties and are always strategically looking at them.

“Nothing is locked in and anything we do will be in consultation with the local (Scout groups).’’

The Scout Hall is well hidden by bushland. Picture: AAP/Renae Droop

Possible options could include selling all or part of the site, one of the last blocks of heavily vegetated bush close to the CBD.

But there would be no conditions on a sale, such as protecting the vegetation.

“If we sell we will go to the open market,’’ he said.

He denied reports the Rovers had been asked to move, saying if the land was sold, the members would move to a new, purpose-built facility.

“In order to ensure we continue to meet the needs of our members — past, present, and future — Scouts Queensland has an obligation to use its resources wisely,’’ he said.

“Sale of any parcel of land owned by Scouts Queensland will benefit our members without compromising their opportunity to develop leadership and outdoor adventure skills.’’

Ms Boyd said the ­property, zoned high density, was a hidden gem — a “breath of fresh air” in an increasingly urban environment.

“Residents are hopeful this land will never be in any danger of being developed,’’ Ms Boyd said.

The land formed a rare wildlife corridor, which was connected on the other side of Finney Rd to council-owned green space running down to the Brisbane River.

Ms Boyd and her husband often saw wildlife there, including a wallaby on one occasion.

She said a lot of working bees had been conducted over the years to help ­improve the site.

Another neighbour had asked the Scouts in August last year about resuming rehabilitation work, but was told the site had been sold and a unit tower was to be built on it.

“Maintenance on the block understandably ceased at this point and part of the property is now overgrown, but time and effort could easily restore the area to its full potential as an open space for the community,’’ Ms Boyd said.

She and her neighbours applied to the council in September last year to protect the vegetation and were advised the site was already protected under the Natural Assets Local Law 2003.