A look at unit applications shows Quirk’s backyard policy is all spin

How many homes are council talking about when Lord Mayor Graham Quirk says he is out to save Brisbane’s backyards?

Planning chairman Matthew Bourke has confirmed Brisbane City Council would continue to allow townhouses and apartments to be built in the backyards of houses in areas zoned low-to-medium density. The ban only applies to low density zoning.

AN ANALYSIS of development applications conducted by the Opposition has revealed Lord Mayor Graham Quirk’s pledge to save Brisbane’s backyards only applied to 4% of current apartment proposals.

In last week’s South-East Advertiser incoming planning chairman Matthew Bourke confirmed council would continue to allow townhouses and apartments to be built in the backyards of houses in areas zoned low-to-medium density. The ban only applies to low density zoning.

The former Residential A zoning is now divided into low density and low to medium density residential.

Councillor Kara Cook (Morningside) said the LNP’s Brisbane’s Future Blueprint document claimed the council would allow townhouses only in “appropriately zoned land, such as medium-density residential areas”.

The analysis of development applications throughout the city in the past year shows less than 4 per cent of applications for townhouses and apartments were in low-density areas, with many of those being additions to existing buildings.

“The analysis of development applications proves Graham Quirk’s plan to “save” backyards is a sham,” Cr Cook said.

“In the Morningside Ward, there were no applications made over the last 12 months for units and townhouses in low density areas. 100 per cent of applications for units and townhouses were in low-to-medium density areas.

“It is clear to me and the residents of Morningside we will see no change to the overdevelopment in our area. Streets will continue to be parked out and traffic congestion will worsen due to poor planning”.

“After selling himself as the champion of backyards, Lord Mayor Quirk’s plan will not change a thing for residents in the Morningside ward. They will just keep waving bad developments through.

“I have said all along that this Plan Your Brisbane exercise was a multimillion-dollar piece of political spin and these figures prove it. It is an incredibly arrogant waste of residents money.”

Cr Cook said Brisbane needed a sensible plan to cater for growth.

Cr Bourke said Brisbane’s Future Blueprint would put a stop to townhouse and apartment developments in low density areas that were designed “for single homes”.