Mt Gravatt East townhouse development plans lodged
Residents thought they had won their David vs Goliath battle to stop a 29-townhouse development in their neighbourhood.
Southeast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Southeast. Followed categories will be added to My News.
RESIDENTS thought they had won their David vs Goliath battle to stop a 29-townhouse development ruining their neighbourhood.
Unfortunately, their victory, was short-lived with the developer lodging plans for the Mt Gravatt East development shortly after Brisbane City Council stepped in to acquire the land.
Council has now told residents to ensure they submit objections to the development when the public consultation period opens.
50% OFF FOR THE FIRST 12 WEEKS WHEN YOU SUBSCRIBE
The Mt Gravatt East Townhouse Development Action Group is once again gearing up to fight the controversial development from destroying the character of their area, according to spokesman Mark Winters.
The Development Application was submitted to council last month and encompasses 6 and 8 Nurran St and 64 and 68 Carrara St which create a pentagon-shaped area that is almost 7000sq m.
Mr Winters said residents were eager to know if council still intended to purchase the land.
“We are confused and anxious,” Mr Winters said.
“We are getting mixed messages from Brisbane City Council.
“We thought council was going to buy the land, now we are being told to put in objections.
“We realise the council has to process the DA but at what point do they say we are buying the land.”
The Southern Star attempted to contact the developer but he was overseas.
Mr Winters said residents spent more than six months fighting the development last year and would continue the fight in 2019.
But Mr Winters hopes they can avoid going into battle again by getting council to stick to its word and buy the land.
“Do we have to remobilise and re-energise the populace again?,” he said.
On November 29, the Southern Star reported on how council intended to save backyards in Mt Gravatt East.
The Lord Mayor Graham Quirk told the Southern Star he had “stepped in to protect two parcels of land” at Carrara and Nurran Streets, Mt Gravatt East.
He said the blocks (68 Carrara St and 8 Nurran St) would be purchased through council’s Bushland Acquisition Program.
Council said once purchased, council would revegetate the land with a range of plants, including fast-growing eucalypt for the koalas displaced when the developer cleared the land after he purchased the properties.
“Council does not support a townhouse development on this site,” a spokeswoman said.
“Negotiations with the landowner of 68 Carrara Street and 8 Nurran Street are ongoing.
“The blocks would add to more than 400ha of native bushland already purchased by council over the past two years.”
Do you know someone with a story to tell? Email kristy.muir@news.com.au
Bystanders’ actions praised, as crash victim identified as young dad
Friends of a 27-year-old man who died in a single-vehicle crash on Brisbane’s bayside have told of the admirable actions of two bystanders, who comforted him at the scene before paramedics arrived.
Yay! Traffic is Brisbane is about to get a lot less congested
Council has identified 14 busy Brisbane roads where it wants to extend clearways to unclog traffic. But not everyone’s a fan of the idea.