Community campaign to block changes to TAFE redevelopment

Plans to double the height of apartments approved for a former TAFE site in Brisbane’s south have been met with fierce opposition from residents.

New plans for Clearview Urban Village show one of three towers now consisting of eight levels.

A COMMUNITY campaign has begun to block drastic changes to development on the former Morningside College of Art site.

Developers Heran Building Group lodged fresh plans last week to build 137 apartments at 23 Griffith Place, Seven Hills, as part of the Clearview Urban Village.

The new plans would double the height of previous plans to eight storeys.

Development up to five storeys was allowed under the current zoning for section H of the development masterplan with four storey buildings originally proposed.

The new plans show three towers for section H, the Low Density Residential and Communities Facilities Area, one of which will rise to eight storeys, and shops on the lower levels.

Councillor Kara Cook (Morningside) said the retail component was a change of use to the current zoning which will trigger an impact assessable development application and take the proposal back to public submissions.

Cr Cook said she had received a number of calls from concerned residents about the plans and launched a petition asking Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner and Council to reject the development application.

Cr Cook said she and residents were concerned about the height and traffic impacts of the proposed development.

“The proposed towers are not keeping with their surroundings and are not consistent with the approved structure plan or the local neighbourhood plan,” Cr Cook said.

“This effectively doubles the height of the original proposal and it now includes shops with almost 300 car parks. I’m not convinced local streets can cope with the extra traffic.”

Floorplans for the development show the lower storeys will have space for five shops, a 2500sqm green grocer and a gym.

The plans now feature “Clearview Markets” on the ground level.

The basement will include 197 residential carparks and another 294 spaces for shoppers.

In their application Heran says there is 3860sqm of communal open space as part of the development.

The sale of the former TAFE site was met with fierce opposition from the community with bush reserve and a 155-seat theatre handed over to the community as part of the redevelopment.

Heran purchased the 9ha TAFE site on Clearview Terrace in 2011 and the council approved the development of 400 units and an aged care facility on the site in June 2014.

The proposal is available on the council’s PD Online website by searching for application number A005343882 and the petition is on the council website.