Environment dept swoops to control tree clearing for $200m Redland sports complex

The federal government has swooped on a third Redland city project, taking control over how the site of a $200m proposed council sports complex will be cleared.

The federal government notice to Redland City Council about the controlled actions at Heinemann Rd where the council plans to build a $200m sports complex.

The federal government has swooped on a third Redland City project, taking control over how the site of a $200m proposed council sports complex will be developed.

In a public notice, the federal government told Redland City Council that its Heinemann Rd sports complex, where 550 trees will be axed, would require Environmental Department assessment and approval before it can proceed.

Redland council said the project was unlocking vacated sites for community benefit and hoped it would not be “unnecessarily delayed” by the federal assessment.

It is the third project in Redland to be under the watchful eye of the federal Environment Department after the Toondah Harbour residential tower blocks were also deemed controlled actions along with a Mount Cotton quarry expansion.

It has not yet been decided if departmental staff will visit the site but if the project fails to get federal government approval under national environmental laws, it cannot go ahead as planned.

In January, the council awarded a $61 million contract to Gold Coast’s Alder Construction to level the site and start building the first stage of the sports complex.

The contract has already been awarded to the Gold Coast company for $61 million.

An Environment Department spokesman said clearing the site of 550 trees was classified as a “controlled action” requiring federal assessment because of listed threatened species including koalas.

He said the project would not be able to go ahead if it breached requirements listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.

“The assessment will look at the project’s potential impacts on matters protected under the Act including listed threatened species and communities such as the koala,” he said.

“Once the assessment is complete, all information will be considered.”

Redland council sent the plans for stage one of its Redlands Coast Regional Sport and Recreation Precinct at Mount Cotton to the federal government for vetting in December before it signed the contract with Alder in January.

A massive gum tree on the site at Heinemann Rd, where a family of eagles lives. PHOTO: Supplied

In its referral, the council said it did not think the project, which involves building up a large part of the site and cutting down gum trees, should be a controlled action under the Act.

Redland council said it had high environmental stewardship credentials and its commitment to protecting the environment was evident as it had self-referred the final designs to the federal government.

“It is a clear sign of our commitment to providing our existing and future communities with a green, liveable and active city that supports physical and mental wellbeing,” the council said.

“Council planned and prepared the project and subsequent referral to be potentially treated as a controlled action by ensuring the precinct was optimally designed to reflect best practice of avoidance, mitigation, rehabilitation, dispersal and protective environmental actions.

“The department … will be requesting that additional information be provided before the final referral decision is made.”

A third site under federal assessment control, also at Mount Cotton, was the Karreman’s greywacke quarry which was approved with conditions in March 2022.