Redland greenlights Shoreline connector road despite opposition

The main one-lane road link between Redland and Logan will get two more sets of lights to handle traffic from 690 new homes, despite concerns about congestion, wildlife and flooding.

Villawood is one of the developers of the Shoreline site at Redland Bay. Pictures: JUDITH KERR

A congested one-lane road between Redland and Logan, will get two new sets of lights within 500m of each other to cope with traffic from 690 new homes in two new housing subdivisions.

Developers Lendlease, Halcyon and Villawood were granted permission to start planning feeder roads from the new estates to connect to Kidd Rd and Serpentine Creek Rd at Redland Bay.

Redland City Council this week approved a request for the new road and subdivision in a section of the 4000-plus lot Shoreline development, despite concerns raised over traffic, environmental corridors, and public amenities.

The decision, carried by a narrow majority, approved a variation to the Shoreline plans to include a key north-south connector road linking a newly Lendlease subdivision to Kidd Rd.

Under the approved conditions, road access will be through Villawood’s development to the north connecting to Kidd Rd or through adjoining lots to the south linking to Serpentine Creek Rd.

A map showing the new road network for the Lendlease subdivision on the left in blue; the Villawood project in orange and the Halcyon housing estate in purple with the two new sets of traffic lights on Serpentine Creek Rd.

Future road design and layout will undergo further assessment in subsequent planning applications.

Kidd Rd residents Paul and Janice McGowan lodged complaints with the state, council and the developers about possible storm water flooding across their road in 2023.

Council officers deemed the new road network crucial for traffic flow, public transport, and pedestrian connectivity.

However, some councillors expressed reservations about the road’s impact on an important ecological corridor traversing the development site.

Councillor Lance Hewlett declared a previously stated conflict of interest regarding Shoreline but confirmed that a prior resolution permitted him to participate in information sessions and vote on the development.

Cr Rowanne Mackenzie put the motion to approve the officer’s recommendation noting that a recent council workshop provided clarity on the development’s alignment with state housing strategies.

Extra pumping tankers were required for stormwater and sewerage drainage at the Shoreline wastewater holding tanks during the recent cyclone. Picture: JUDITH KERR

Questions were raised about the inclusion of recreational park provisions which were ruled out as irrelevant to the vote.

The most contentious aspect of the proposal, the north-south connector road, drew opposition from four councillors.

Local Redland Bay councillor Julie Talty argued that alternative road networks could have been designed to avoid encroaching on an environmental corridor.

A primary ecological corridor will be built across the site to support wildlife movement and habitat.

Public pathways and essential infrastructure, including stormwater management, will be restricted to the outer edges of the corridor.

Ultimately, the motion was carried, with councillors Mitchell, Hewlett, Reynolds, McKenzie, Huges, and Colley voting in favour.

Councillors Boglary, Talty, Bishop, and the mayor opposed the move.