Protesters target Alex Givney office after 200 attend Wynnum CBD meeting
Police were called to a protest outside a Brisbane councillor’s office after more than 200 people turned up to a public meeting about opening up Wynnum to highrise development.
Protesters have targeted a Brisbane bayside councillor’s office after more than 200 people turned up to a public meeting on Thursday night about opening up Wynnum to highrise development.
Councillor Alex Givney’s office called police on Friday afternoon but no one was arrested.
The meeting, organised by the Wynnum Manly Community Group, became heated during questions.
Community group spokeswoman Tarnya Lowe said locals had no issue with more development but were concerned at impacts on overcrowded schools, scarce street parking and public transport.
“We also have no hospital or satellite hospital, just a medical centre that doesn’t do (medical imaging). We have to go to Cleveland for that,’’ she said.
“Council says it’s great that we’re so close to a train station and are talking about making the area a TOD (Transport Oriented Development), but we’re 25km from the CBD and Brisbane’s other TODs are much closer.
“Nobody’s against development but Brisbane City Council needs to be forward thinking and use this as an opportunity to deliver good development.’’
Council voted in September on a suburb precinct plan that would usher in towers up to 15 levels in Wynnum’s “CBD’’.
It said precinct plans in Wynnum and Stones Corner were needed to house the influx of people moving to the city.
They would also unlock opportunities in the two well-connected areas, which were close to transport, jobs and lifestyle opportunities.
Public transport advocacy group Better Transport Queensland said train services needed to improve to handle the expected influx of new residents.
BTQ president Rowan Gray told Thursday’s meeting that services would have to increase to about every 10-15 minutes.
Ms Lowe said however that the train did not connect to Westfield shopping centres at Carindale and Chermside, key destinations for Wynnum Manly locals.
Consultation on the Wynnum plan was due to have closed on November 9.
However, Ms Givney agreed to the community group’s request for an extra fortnight so they could gather more information. The closing date was now this Sunday, November 23.
At the moment Central Wynnum has buildings up to about 10 levels although there was one proposal, yet to be approved, which has been lodged for a higher tower near the railway line.
The draft plan allowed up to 15 storeys in key locations and 75,000 sqm of commercial space.
It could also involve making two streets one way and reconfiguring street parking to improve traffic flow.
Ms Lowe insisted the community group was not a partisan political group.
However, The Courier-Mail was shown photos of her in Labor T-shirts campaigning for ALP councillor-turned-federal politician Kara Cook.
Mr Gray has also been pictured with a Labor politician.
Ms Givney said the revitalisation of Wynnum’s CBD was a “really exciting opportunity to provide more homes and activate our businesses’’.
“Our suburban renewal plans strike the a balance between encouraging more homes in well-serviced areas while protecting our residential areas and the iconic waterfront,’’ she said.
“I’ve been listening to residents to hear what they would like to see in the area and it’s fantastic to see the whole community has been having their say during the community consultation period.
“Wynnum’s CBD is the beating heart of Brisbane’s bayside and there is so much potential to make it even better.”
Council Labor Opposition Leader Jared Cassidy, who spoke at the meeting, said opponents of the plan were not NIMBYs.
“They just don’t have any faith council will deliver the services, amenities and transport needed to accommodate for tomorrow, let alone today,’’ he said.
“We need housing. We need development, but it must be done the right way with the right infrastructure.
“Ultimately, this precinct plan must put community first, not developers first.”
