Opinion: Nathan townhouse development, Brisbane City Council
Residents have their say on everything from a massive townhouse development at Nathan to why Brisbane City Council won’t listen to the community.
Southeast
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OUR readers have their say on everything from overdevelopment at Nathan to Brisbane City Council not being in touch with the community to chaos on our roads. What do you think?
Nathan townhouse fight
The Residents in Brisbane suburbs are shouting out loud and clear about not wanting developments in outer suburbs.
Inner City areas are different, as one would expect high rise apartments, however it’s a different matter in the suburbs.
There used to be height restrictions on Gold Coast apartments which have now been lifted, I’d hate to see a scenario where 20-30 story blocks are green lighted in Brisbane suburbs.
The current Council is irresponsible and greedy allowing the destruction of our City
to continue.
I hope the Southern Star keeps printing articles about residents fighting developers
and I’d like to thank and offer support to those affected by these ugly and unnecessary projects. I admire and care about every one of you! Merry Christmas to all and may the good fight continue.
Tony Crossley, Mt Gravatt East
A big thanks to the Southern Star
Thanks to the Southern Star for continuing to support the Nathan community in its fight to stop overdevelopment in our small community.
We urge Brisbane City Council officers to listen to the concerns of the community and not approve the 53 Fairlawn St, development. 750 dwellings will more than double the population of our suburb and it will no doubt cause continuous problems for locals in the future due to traffic and in the case of fire or flood events.
Blake Buchanan, Nathan Action Group
Where’s our say on proposal?
On the Carina bakery redevelopment (South-East Advertiser, P1, December 6), sorry I must be missing something here.
A developer, Frasers, has (1) cleared Brisbane City Council recognised koala habitat and (2) undertaken pre-development site works 10 days before public submissions on the DA close and before a council planning decision has been made on the merits of the developer’s application?
Who’s running this city? Clearly it’s not our elected local government!
The elected Councillor Ryan Murphy needs to be reminded at the forthcoming 2020 Local Government elections that he holds his very well-paying job at the discretion of the ratepayer voters in his Ward, whose lifestyles will be forever damaged by this ‘proposed’ development.
Mark, via couriermail.com.au/questnews
Cr Krista Adams: Our votes aren’t free, you have to earn them!
We lived in Steele St, Holland Park until Brisbane City Council approved a large set of units next door that seemingly breached the council residential design code. We, and other residents, lodged formal objections and sought support from our local councillor. All to no avail!
We sold up and moved to a Low Density Residential property in the hillside precinct of Melba Crescent and Abbotsleigh Street. Now, a proposed childcare centre is planned for two adjoining properties which will be 9.5m high and obscure our hillside views. The Childcare Centre will house 84 clients and 20 staff. My polite approaches to Councillor Krista Adams, yielded no response to my concerns.
Other residents have contacted her and one couple met with her. She has not offered to intervene on our behalf (sound familiar!). Melba Crescent, Abbotsleigh Street and Percival Terrace are congested at school drop-off times and house staff and parent parking for the nearby Holland Park State School. Compounding this Cr Adams is promoting the “active schools track” directly outside the proposed Centre. So on one hand council promotes safety and school pedestrian traffic on the footpaths while on the other hand they promote increased vehicular traffic to a large business across those very same footpaths.
Nick and Marion, Holland Park
Chaos on our roads
The boundaries between cyclists and motorists is now legislated, with cyclists given a set clearance distance for safety on the roads. Due to repeated fatal accidents, it is now mandatory to give way. It is only common courtesy for road users.
However, it is on shared paths with pedestrians that conflict arises. The rule of the sea is that: “Power gives way to sail.” Adapting that principle to shared paths, pedal power must give way to pedestrians [foot power]. The reality is that cyclists, often in groups, rarely announce their presence from behind, passing unsuspecting pedestrians, often with speed. Bell ringing to warn of an imminent approach is a lost practice, it seems. Many ride without a bell, which can be purchased for as little as $2.
Cycling groups who move around our communities for social activities or exercise, often pass pedestrians at two or three abreast, with pedestrians forced to give way to prevent chaos. There is little or no consideration for the right of way of pedestrians by cyclists who have no recourse but to stand aside while cyclists fly past, often chatting and not giving attention to other shared paths users. There have been collisions between cyclists and pedestrians, such as couriers, who use footpaths to avoid congested traffic. On suburban footpaths there is no excuse.
It seems to be: “Rafferty rules” when it comes to sharing paths. There is no legislation ensuring cyclists must give way to pedestrians, as there is between cars and cyclists. But the laws of common sense and courtesy prevail. Showing consideration means it isn’t “all about me” and my rights. It’s a dying art in a selfish society.
Eloise Rowe
This time of year everyone is in a rush to make it to their Christmas deadlines. In our Christmas frenzies, road trauma increasingly becomes the tragic outcome of our hurry. In our line of work we see first-hand the devastating consequences of driving at speed or driving while distracted, resulting in serious injury and death. They are tragedies we wouldn’t wish on anyone at any time of year. This Christmas, slow down and arrive alive to your family functions. Don’t use your phone, don’t text and drive, obey the speed limit and keep your eyes on the road. Your life and your families lives depend on it. From everyone at Shine’s Carindale’s branch — we hope you have a safe and happy festive season.
Sarah Grace, Shine Lawyers Branch Manager
The ongoing trauma resulting from crashes on Queensland roads causes me as a concerned citizen to write to address in particular the fatality rate on undivided single lane roads with a speed limit of 100km/h.
Queensland Government Statistics reveal that 40% of all fatalities on Queensland roads for each of the last 4 years occurred on such roads and this has to be a highly disproportionate representation in terms, considering the overall road mileage and vehicle usage in this state.
Today we are sharing these roads with many more motorists than when this limit was first implemented. It can be argued that even then this limit was unrealistic in providing a safe environment on roads where the opposing traffic, including of course heavy vehicular traffic, is in most cases 2 to 3 meters apart at best, resulting in, in particular, most of our horrific ‘head on’ multiple fatality crashes.
It has been shown elsewhere that to reduce this speed limit to a more sensible speed, eg 90km/h, has a minimum effect on journey time but importantly a major influence on the severity of injury and damage involved with crashes. One can recall the opposition in the 1990s to the proposed introduction of the 50km/h speed limit (from the existing 60km/h) on our urban streets. This advent resulted in a substantial reduction in the urban road toll, without side effects, and we hear no opposition today to this change.
Until such forms of physical separation or other technology is introduced on these roads and for the sake of minimising loss of life and trauma on these roads we seek support in advocating for the reduction of this speed limit.
Ross Lang, Tingalpa
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South-East Advertiser: editorial@southeastadvertiser.com.au
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