Land shortage critical and local construction industry at risk as decisions delay residential project
A longstanding local developer wants answers on why council continues to delay this southeast Queensland residential project, despite the success of a recent community engagement process.
Redlands Coast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Redlands Coast. Followed categories will be added to My News.
CAPALABA builder Fiteni Homes is asking for answers as plans for a new Victoria Point residential community have hit further delays with Redland City Council.
Fiteni residential development manager Vaughn Bowden said the Woodbury estate could be home to up to 800 Redlands Coast families and provide a boost to the local construction industry – but holdups now spanning six months meant landholders and the community were uncertain about the future.
The estate is proposed for an 80ha parcel of land within the 175ha Victoria Point Structure Plan Area, which is bounded by Bunker, Cleveland-Redland Bay and Double Jump roads.
A number of developers own land parcels within the structure plan area, which has been earmarked for new housing for a number of years.
Mr Bowden said a Council decision, which had been expected in May, was delayed. On September 11, councillors then deferred a vote which would have seen the structure plan progress to the State Government for review. The item was also missing from Council’s October 9 agenda.
$1 A WEEK FOR THE FIRST 8 WEEKS. Min. cost $4
“We are frustrated that Council has once again failed to achieve the time frames they themselves set, and again delayed a decision on the structure plan,” Mr Bowden said.
“We have been working with Council on the planning for this area for more than four years.”
Mr Bowden said Fiteni was initially asked to prepare a structure plan, which it completed, but Council had since decided to prepare its own – adding major delays to the project.
“Our structure plan was prepared at the request of Council, under a developer-led structure planning process, in order to minimise community cost,” Mr Bowden said.
“Council then adopted a new position to delay the process in order to fund and prepare their own structure plan within a designated time frame. Disappointingly they have again been unable to meet their own time frames.
“Our structure plan has been widely publicised through the groundbreaking Woodbury engagement process.
“Council has made a decision not to consult with land owners or the community until a structure plan has been reviewed by the State Government – preparing the structure plan confidentially, behind closed doors.
“This approach is not aligned with the State Government’s planning guidelines which encourage councils to undertake early and transparent consultation.
“Our recent public engagement for Woodbury demonstrated that the community wants to have its voice heard and will happily engage to build a better Redlands.
“We are concerned that the closed process adopted by Council does not provide a genuine opportunity for the community to help shape the future of the Redlands.”
Fiteni’s comprehensive community engagement program went well beyond traditional developer processes, with stage one – which was conducted over eight weeks – recording more than half a million points of contact with Redlands Coast residents.
Read more about the development project:
Fiteni completes groundbreaking community consultation process
Upgrade to intersection at Cleveland-Redland Bay Rd and Anita St
Builder launches consultation for Woodbury housing project to be set among nature
A Redland City Council spokeswoman said the council’s draft Victoria Point Structure Plan was in the finalisation process.
“Council considers many important issues before the plan is presented for State Government review to ensure it meets community standards and complies with appropriate planning laws,” the spokeswoman said.
“These issues include appropriate provision of urban infrastructure, retaining significant landscape features and that new development creates attractive communities.
“Council received input from Ausbuild and other developers with an interest in the area, but ultimately our role is to represent the entire community, including our residents, and so our structure plan is focused on doing that.
“We appreciate the developers’ input, which will help inform our final structure plan, but at the end of the day our structure plan needs to take into account the entire community.”
The spokeswoman confirmed that no decisions would be made on development applications before the Council-led structure plan was complete.
But Mr Bowden questioned the Council’s community engagement process, arguing that it would not match Fiteni’s “groundbreaking” consultation, which he said was carried out during the drafting stage of their structure plan.
He argued that the local community would not be brought into discussions with Council until after their draft structure plan had been finalised and reviewed by the State Government.
“During our community engagement program for Woodbury, local residents told us that they would like a solution for traffic in Victoria Point, have a strong preference for traditional detached homes over townhouses and apartments, would like great parks where families and individuals can play and explore, and would like to see a balanced approach where ecologically significant bushland is maintained or rehabilitated.
“Our proposed structure plan strongly reflects these community expectations.
“All development works will be funded by the developers with a forecast surplus of infrastructure charges that will be paid to Council, potentially funding community infrastructure projects such as road upgrades or the long-awaited Heinemann Road District sporting fields.”
Mr Bowden said Woodbury would help address pressing local traffic issues.
“In response to community feedback, Woodbury offered to bring forward the construction of the four-lane signalised intersection where Double Jump Rd meets Cleveland-Redland Bay Rd to coincide with the State Government’s planned works at Anita St,” Mr Bowden said.
“This would reduce community disruption and provide a significant first stage of the planned state-funded upgrade three to four years earlier than required, with a significant portion funded entirely by Woodbury.
“Given the Anita St works are planned for early 2020, our offer required Council to comply with their published time frames for the progression of the structure plan and with the statutory time frames for the development applications.
“Council has since failed to meet the time frames they specified, with no explanation. “Disappointingly, Council also declined the offer to bring forward the much-needed road works.
“This most recent delay provides the landowners in the area with no certainty about when Council will move forward.”
Mr Bowden said that current Council planning had not created land for new homes within the main growth areas identified by themselves and the State Government.
“This has resulted in a critical land shortage, which is having a significant impact on the livelihoods of local families and the viability of businesses which rely on a healthy local construction industry,” he said.
“Construction is not only the largest employer in the Redlands – with nearly 6000 full-time employees – it is also the largest industry, with over 2800 construction industry businesses.
“As one of the largest contributors to the Redlands’ economy, a downturn in the construction sector is felt throughout the wider economy.”
More Redlands Community News:
Guns, drugs, cash found in Redlands police raid
Koala hit by car released into wild only a month before
Quarry to go ahead despite 15-year campaign
Council said its process was in line with State Government guidelines and that community concerns would be addressed.
“The process that Council must follow in making a planning scheme amendment is set out by the Ministers Guidelines and Rules under the Planning Act 2016 and public consultation is included in this process, following state interest review,” the council spokeswoman said.
“The Council-led structure plan will ensure that any development includes upgrades to all infrastructure networks including roads and parks.
“Costs paid by developers should cover all new or upgraded infrastructure required to service their development.
“Council is working to ensure the development does not financially burden Redland City ratepayers.”
FOLLOW REDLANDS COMMUNITY NEWS ON FACEBOOK
High school swap history with Brisbane-Jakarta exchange
Hundreds of high school students will be able to get a taste of life in Indonesia under Australia’s first Islamic student swap program, with the deal to kick off in January.
Missing woman identified, as hero neighbours tell of battle to save little Raven
New details have emerged of neighbours’ desperate attempts to save a “well-loved” little girl who died in a ferocious fire, with grave concerns for her missing babysitter, who has been identified.