Creek pollution concerns with major construction site flooding

The LNP council has been slammed for ignoring community concerns over pollution and flooding from a construction site.

Labor candidate for Doboy Jo Culshaw at the flooded entrance to the Fursden Rd development site.

THE LNP council has been slammed for ignoring community concerns over pollution and flooding at the old Carina bakery.

Frasers Property is developing 197 units and 20 residential lots at the former Goodman Fielder Bakery site.

The 5.4ha site at 179-193 Fursden Rd is on a flood plain and adjoins Minnippi Parklands.

Labor candidate for Doboy Jo Culshaw said poor sediment control on site had seen massive amounts of mud and silt wash onto Fursden Road and ultimately, Bulimba Creek, following heavy rain this week.

Mrs Culshaw and concerned residents reported the issues to Brisbane City Council in January after heavy rain.

“All this extra silt in Bulimba Creek increases the severity of local flooding,” Mrs Culshaw said.

“This will impact residents in low lying areas near Wood Avenue, Fursden and Preston Roads, Carina; Boundary Road, Tingalpa; and various locations in Hemmant.

“The LNP led council told me they would take action; they haven’t.

“My community needs this council to not only act, but to be proactive on issues that Brisbane residents face.”

Bulimba Creek group B4C catchment manager Wayne Cameron had warned of the impact of filling in the floodplain prior to Council’s approval of the plans.

Developer Frasers Property Australia Executive General Manager - Residential Cameron Leggatt said extremely heavy rainfall in recent days and weeks has created challenging site conditions for sediment management.

“We continue to work with the contractor, in consultation with Brisbane City Council, to re-establish and strengthen the site’s sediment controls, including the establishment of a temporary spillway,” Mr Leggatt said,

“With regard to the future development, we note that filling and flooding considerations have been extensively modelled and detailed in the development application.

The development was approved in June 2019.

Mr Leggatt said the approved works included upgrades to the existing stormwater drainage network on Fursden Road.

Councillor Lisa Atwood (Doboy) said the council continued to take all concerns seriously.

“With current weather events, I have monitored the site daily and have spoken with Frasers Development three times in the past week,” she said.

“Council also attended the site last week and engaged with the property owner to address maintenance of the erosion and sediment control measures.

“The property owner is responding to these recommendations and Council will monitor the development to ensure they are attended to.”

Cr Atwood said Council had not identified any compliance issues at the site, however, contacted the developer to initiate a development audit.

“A Compliance and Regulatory Services Erosion Sediment Compliance Officer will meet with the developers (today). Once site works commence, the Development Audit Unit will attend the site,” she said.

“Council maintains that the proposed development will achieve the required floor levels for flood immunity in accordance with the City Plan 2014 and the development approval.”