Mt Gravatt East residents rally to stop townhouse development
An anti-development action group has declared war on the townhouse takeover in Brisbane’s south.
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AN anti-development group has declared war on the townhouse takeover in Brisbane’s south.
Mt Gravatt East Townhouse Development Action Group is campaigning to stop a 32-townhouse development in Carrara and Nurran Sts, even before an application has been lodged with Brisbane City Council.
Almost six months ago the Southern Star reported on the plans for the three adjoining properties 64 and 68 Carrara and 8 Nurran Sts, which a Brisbane-based developer has purchased through Ray White Holland Park.
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This week the Southern Star learned the real estate company has also sold another nearby property to the same developer.
While the owner of at least one other nearby property has been approached to sell their house.
The developer and Ray White Holland Park have been approached for comment.
Mt Gravatt East Townhouse Development Action Group spokesman Mark Winters said waiting for a Development Application to be lodged with council would be “too late” to do anything.
He said it would be a costly exercise to have to fight the Planning and Environment Court but residents did not want their backyards ruined.
“We are cranking up to the next level,” Mr Winters told the Southern Star.
“We are mobilising the people in Mt Gravatt East, Mt Gravatt and Holland Park.
“If you drive through the southside you see all the townhouses.
“It’s the cancer that is growing out from the CBD.
“We’re protesting against the development, Councillor Krista Adams.”
The group is undertaking a 4000-home letterbox drop to alert locals to the current situation as well as a public meeting being held on December 2 from 12-2pm.
Hundreds of locals are expected after the turnout at the last public meeting, which was held on June 2, 2018, when locals found out about the developers’s plans.
Politicians from all levels of government will be attending the meeting next month.
About 11 weeks ago the Mt Gravatt East Townhouse Development Action Group lodged a petition with 835 signatures to council about the proposed townhouse development.
“We are trying to remain A-political but it is hard when our local council is pro-development,” Mr Winters said.
ALP councillor Jared Cassidy (Deagon ward) on Tuesday moved an urgency motion for a temporary local planning instrument (TLPI) on land located at 64 and 68 Carrara St and 8 Nurran St, Mt Gravatt East to protect its zoning as low-density residential in line with Brisbane’s Future Blueprint for Planning.
ALP councillor Steve Griffiths (Moorooka ward), who is opposition spokesman for environment and for infrastructure, was one of the five ALP members to vote in support of the motion, along with Greens councillor Jonathan Sri (The Gabba ward) and independent councillor Nicole Johnston (Tennyson ward).
Cr Griffiths said the ALP got behind the outraged Mt Gravatt East locals because the “issue has come up publicly”.
“It is just we have been following it,” he said.
The 19 LNP councillors voted against the motion.
“They (LNP) are saying they want to (save backyards) … this is where they could have done it but didn’t,” Cr Griffiths said.
“(Cr) Krista (Adams) said ‘it is not us, it is the State Government’.”
Cr Krista Adams (Holland Park ward) defended her actions by saying she voted against the TLPI because it was only a stop gap.
“As far as the (LNP) administration is concerned we are really focused on removing the possibility of townhouses on sites over 3000sq m in the low-density residential areas . exactly what this is,” Cr Adams said.
Cr Adams said the Quirk administration had written to the State Government on September 5 to get permission for the amendments but had “heard nothing”
She said getting the State Government response would be equal to getting multiple TLPIs.
“It’s the same thing, we can send the amendment through council and every low-density site around Brisbane, we can start using that proposed amendment as guidance for our development assessment,” Cr Adams said.
“ … we can start it without that as well, which is what we’re looking at doing, so we can just get it done, but it is disappointing.”
Cr Adam said: “The amount of land is suitable for townhouses under the current plan, it is impact assessable though.
“The real estate agent really did stir up everybody by saying ‘this is what we are doing’.
“It is not what they were doing, it is what they were proposing to do.
“And as we have seen they haven’t even proposed that, officially, anymore.”
Cr Adams said she didn’t know who the developer.
“I don’t support townhouses on this site because it does not support our amendment proposal for townhouses not to be seen in sites where we have single-dwelling houses and this is obviously a site surrounded, and characterised by single-dwelling houses in this area,” she said.
“There are no townhouses in any of that area.
“It doesn't conform with the single-dwelling houses around it, so, I wouldn’t support any townhouses coming on that site.
“It is also very disappointing that the trees were (cut down), I think that was a big part of what got everyone upset as well, if they didn’t clear the trees and they thought about it. They will probably end up having to do single block houses, they are now going to have to do a lot of replanting of trees.”
Member for Mansfield Corrine McMillan said State Government was not holding up council’s plans to stop overdevelopment in low-density residential areas.
“At the Brisbane City Council meeting held on November 20, LNP councillors had an excellent opportunity to heed the calls of concerned residents about the proposed townhouse development in Mt Gravatt East,” she said.
“I am bitterly disappointed that the LNP councillors voted as a block to oppose an opposition motion calling for the proposal to be stopped.
“The LNP claimed that they could not do so because changes to the Brisbane City Plan had not been approved by State (Government).
“These changes would do nothing more than add a further level of scrutiny to council’s deliberations on certain developments. Council is able engage in public consultation regarding controversial developments at any time, if it so chooses.
“To claim that their hands are tied because of State Government inaction is to say the least, disingenuous.
“The perception that the public can rightly draw from this is that council are not acting in the interests of residents but are more concerned with protecting developers from scrutiny.”
What the State and Federal pollies say
Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta said: “I acknowledge that there are a considerable number of people who oppose this development for a variety of reasons.
“I have written to the council asking for a close examination of any application lodged. I am also consulting with my colleague Environment Minister Melissa Price to see if there is anything further that can be considered regarding this application.
“I have previously met with representatives from the Mt Gravatt East Development Action Group and I’m glad to be able to attend their public meeting to hear the wider community’s concerns. As the Federal MP for the area I will always do my best to achieve the best possible outcomes for my constituents.”
ALP candidate for the Federal seat of Bonner Jo Briskey said: “It’s really disappointing that the local LNP Councillor for Holland Park had the opportunity to be on the side of the community but decided against it.
“I know the concern and anger among residents — I’ve been out knocking on doors and working to collect the signatures for the petition.
“It’s become very clear to residents that the LNP council is arrogant, out of touch and refuses to listen.
“I’ll continue to stand with the local community and help them in their fight to protect their neighbourhood from bad development.”
What the people say
Aaron Saragossi: Great for developers, horrible for residents and the character of the areas.
Glenys de Lange: The city will lose its character if town houses and family homes share a street. Room for both of course.
Ozzie Fran: Say no! Too many units going up they are ugly.
Peggy Fuchs: Too much development going on, what are they trying to get rid of every tree in Brisbane for crying out loud.
Jill Dixon: Good on you — stay loud and strong!
AngelaTony Law: No more devastation.
Lynn Booker wrote: Holmview (the vale) residents this is what we should have done! After 5/6 years of devastating development we still have heavy truck and dogs loaded up with dirt speeding up and down our narrow street (main street now) not to mention more and more cars as they continue to tear down bushland (never mind koala, kangaroo etc). They haven’t finished yet apparently it could be a long time before they will be finished completely! I support you with your protest — we should have done more. Good luck!
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