Mt Gravatt East anti-development group launches petition

A COMMUNITY on Brisbane's southside has spoken — and it will not stand for a proposed 32-townhouse development.

Mount Gravatt East Townhouse Development Action Group giving State Member for Mansfield Corrine McMillan the petition.

THE Mt Gravatt East community has spoke n — and it will not stand for a proposed townhouse development.

More than 830 people signed a petition against a 32-townhouse development, even before the developer has submitted an application with Brisbane City Council.

The plans are for three adjoining properties on Carrara and Nurran sts, which the Brisbane developer has purchased through Ray White Holland Park.

There has been backlash over a Mt Gravatt East townhouse development which the developer hasn't even submitted a development application for to Brisbane City Council. There has been a community meeting to discuss the impact on residents and wildlife in the area.

Mt Gravatt East Townhouse Development Action Group spokesman Mark Winters said he was “surprised and delighted” at the overwhelming response and ownership of the petition against the townhouse proposal.

“It certainly sends a strong message to Brisbane City Council that Mt Gravatt East residents don’t want this concentrated townhouse complex in our suburb,” he said.

The area where the developer wants to put the townhouses.

“It’s not good enough for Lord Mayor Graham Quirk to dangle a carrot in front of Brisbane residents and rate-paying voters, promising to stop more townhouse developments in suburban backyards to coincide with the next council elections in 2020.

“We don’t want this 32 x 4-bedroom townhouse complex to be the ‘last townhouse’ construction in Mount Gravatt East before council bans them; we don’t want it at all.

There have been community meetings to discuss the impact on residents and wildlife in the area.

“It’s a wholly inappropriate development, totally out-of-character with other properties in the suburb.

“The local wildlife has been decimated by the strip clearing of the site — koalas have been returning to a bare dirt site, looking for trees that are no longer there. One, posthumously named Carter, was killed by domestic dogs on July 25 on a property backing onto the denuded site.

Carter the koala from Mt Gravatt East died on July 25.

“We’re here for as long as it takes to make any development on this site reflect the character and land size of our suburb, and won’t tolerate having a concrete ghetto here.”

The developer have been contacted for comment.

City Planning Chairman Cr Matthew Bourke said 8 Nurran St, 64 Carrara St and 68 Carrara St were not intended for townhouses.

“Earlier this year, the Lord Mayor released Brisbane’s Future Blueprint and made it clear that we would be putting a stop to townhouses and apartments in areas designed for single homes,” Cr Bourke said.

There has been backlash over a Mt Gravatt East townhouse development which the developer hasn't even submitted a development application to Brisbane City Council. There has been a community meeting to discuss the impact on residents and wildlife in the area.

“We know from the South East Queensland Regional Plan that Brisbane will need an additional 188,000 homes by 2041, however, council is committed to ensuring new homes are built in areas designed for future growth such as medium or low-medium zoned areas.”

Council has not received any development applications for the Mt Gravatt East blocks in the past 20 years.

Mt Gravatt East locals chat about the proposed development.

If a development application is lodged, council is required to provide a detailed assessment and decision under State Government laws, a council spokeswoman said.

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