Council raises concerns on koala habitat lost at Carina unit project

Preliminary works have already begun on the redevelopment of a former bakery site at site in Brisbane’s south despite submissions to council still being open for another 10 days and major concerns raised about the impact on the koala population.

Preliminary work starts at the Ellen St side of the former Goodman Fielder Bakery site at Carina. Picture: Brian Bennion

Preliminary works have already begun on the redevelopment of a former bakery site at Carina despite concerns raised on habitat loss in the koala corridor.

The proposed development at 179-193 Fursden Rd was only publicly advertised on November 21 and submissions close on December 13.

However truck loads of debris were being removed from the back of the development site on Kate St on Friday as an excavator dug up concrete and crews with chainsaws were on a neighbouring, heavily vegetated site acquired as part of the redevelopment. Small boundary trees had been removed in the bakery grounds at Kate St.

Brisbane City Council had raised concerns about the proposed density, layout and extent of earthworks, which planners said would “adversely affect the open space, amenity and the ecological values of the site including koala habitat and significant trees”.

The property adjoins Minnippi Parklands and Bulimba Creek runs close to the boundary.

In July developers Frasers Property lodged plans for 197 units and 20 residential lots over eight stages at the 5.4ha former Goodman Fielder Bakery site.

The plans have recently been revised to 173 units and 21 lots and additional established trees in the northeast of the site will be retained in response to the council’s concerns.

Development signs for the Goodman Fielder site at Fursden Road, Ellen Street and Kate Street in Carina, go up last month. Picture: AAP/Richard Walker

Frasers Property and Cr Ryan Murphy (Doboy) did not respond to questions on the proposed development on Friday.

On the project website, Frasers states more than 20 per cent of the site has been reserved as open space, including a recreation centre, with a residents pool and barbecue facilities and a parkland in the north pocket that connects to the neighbouring Minnippi Parklands.

It says the plan aligns with the SEQ Regional Plan focused on matching housing location with a more sustainable urban design to support the need for 30,000 dwellings each year for the next 25 years.

“The goal is to maximise existing community infrastructure, provide diversity in housing to meet the changing make-up of our population and provide choice and affordability.”

Small perimeter trees are removed in preliminary works at the Kate St side of the former Goodman Fielder Bakery at Carina. Picture: Brian Bennion