Salisbury locals fight to stop contoversial development
The fate of a tight-knit community rests in the hands of Brisbane City Council as residents wait to hear if a “large and inappropriate” development will be approved.
Southeast
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CHANGES to the proposed plans of a controversial development on Brisbane’s southside have done little to put residents’ minds at ease.
More than 200 submissions opposing the 60 Rosebank Square development have been made to Brisbane City Council since the application for the multi-level space, which includes a 70-space childcare centre, community space, language school and shop, was lodged in January.
Residents have made their “strong feelings” about the “large” and “inappropriate” development known, saying they believe the facility will generate significant noise and pedestrian and vehicle traffic that will detract from the local amenity.
In the past month, site owners Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation of The Republic of China have amended the plans for the site, removing the fourth, mezzanine level, and implementing additional “landscaping and deep planting” required by council.
The amendments mean the development is now ‘code accessible’ which means, while residents’ feelings about the project will be taken into account, they will have no right of appeal and no public notification is required.
Despite this, the tight-knit community is not giving up their fight — they are already resubmitting their objections to council based on the new plans.
Tzu Chi Foundation spokesman Patrick Lu said he had not heard of any backlash post reducing the height of the development.
“I believe our adjustment has incorporated input from both council and community,” he said.
“ … we are developing a community amenity for both Salisbury and also border communities — our childcare centre will service both Salisbury and all the other surrounding suburbs; our community hall will facilitate the training program for community volunteers; our various charity programs will assist the underprivileged population in the community and families going through various crisis’.
“We sincerely hope that community would recognise the value this community amenity would provide.”
Salisbury resident David Roche, who lives on the boundary of the development site, is one of hundreds fighting to stop this development.
He said the battle against the developer was “not over”.
“As a resident, a rate payer and a reasonable person; in considering these changes to the original submitted plans, I do not at all feel like a building of this kind, operated in the manners proposed is a reasonable or acceptable proposition for a small, wholly otherwise residential community,” he said.
“The impacts to it are too great.
“I ask that council acknowledge the community’s valid concerns.”
Mr Roche has a strong opinion about why the foundation has heard nothing since the revised plans were lodged.
“The foundation hasn’t heard any backlash from the community because we have been advised by BCC that we currently have no avenues in which to do so,” he said.
“The changes to the proposed development i.e. the reduction by the omission of the mezzanine floor does not reflect a reduction in the daily activities and operating hours, so the proposed application remains a major concern for residents.”
A fellow Salisbury resident, who wishes to be known only as Dave, has lived in the suburb for 23 years and raised his family there.
He strongly objects to the development and has written to council this week about the new plans.
“ … I see no benefit from this for our local community and many negative impacts for the local neighbourhood,” he said.
“It (the development) is totally inappropriate for the existing neighbourhood and there many more local suitable locations for this development in a commercial/industrial precinct which would have minimal impact on surrounding occupants.”
ALP Cr Steve Griffiths (Moorooka ward) said: “There is strong feeling that the proposal is too large, imposing, inappropriate for the community, will generate significant noise, pedestrian and vehicle traffic, that will detract from the local amenity.
“By reverting to Code Assessable criteria (there is no right of appeal, or public notification required), the (LNP) administration has effectively impacted residents’ ability to have their say.
“Those residents who have already lodged a submission will have them considered as part of the new assessment process but that process will be limited to particular criteria.
Under this process, although residents won’t have a right of appeal, the applicant can appeal council’s decision in relation to this application.”
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