Salisbury residents rally against Rosebank Square development
The developer of a multi-storey community hub, with a childcare centre, in Brisbane’s south is determined to push ahead with the plans despite community outrage.
Southeast
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The developer of a multi-storey community hub in Brisbane’s south is determined to push ahead with the plans despite community anger.
This week a meeting was held with stakeholders about the proposed 60 Rosebank Square, Salisbury development which will encompass a community and educational hub with a childcare centre to make the project financially viable.
Representatives from the Salisbury community, ALP Brisbane City Councillor Steve Griffiths (Moorooka ward) and the land owners, the Tzu Chi Foundation and architect John Neylan were in attendance on Monday night.
Community concerns included increased traffic, especially when it came to the childcare centre, that the size and height of the building did not suit the area, and the idea of making a section of Rosebank Square one-way.
“Traffic (is a) concern due to a possible 80 children per day childcare section of the building operating 6am to 6pm weekdays,” resident Dave Roche said.
“(They’re) ignoring the intended original scope and use of the block as shops to facilitate local residents.”
Another resident, Anita, she felt the foundation was “not concerned or influenced by any community concern of the impact of the building on the overall community space”.
“In particular, the development group stands by the traffic report that there will be no increase in traffic,” she said.
“The development group was not afflicted in any way to take on the concerns of rat-running, congestion at the entry and exit streets of surrounding streets and safety of locals moving in and around the neighbourhood including the use of the park.
“My impressions are such that there is no interest in the community that resides in and around Salisbury.”
The Tzu Chi Foundation representatives tried to put the community’s mind at rest by noting the child care drop-off points would be within the basement parking and that the design included new footpaths surrounding the building on all four sides.
The representatives also noted they would be happy to consult further with experts about the options when it came to traffic flow in Rosebank Square, noting it was a traffic engineer and Brisbane City Council which made the initial recommendation to make it a one-way street.
However, the Tzu Chi Foundation stood firm on the fact they believed the design of the building considered the residential feel of the area and the child care centre was required to make this redevelopment viable for the foundation, noting that this redevelopment was critical to the mission of the foundation and would benefit the general community
The intimate meeting followed a large community rally held in Rosebank Square the day before (Sunday) to protest against the plans.
The Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation lodged plans to develop the site with Brisbane City Council on January 11, 2019.
The proposal includes 36 parking spaces, a bookshop, office, meeting hall with a stage, seven classrooms, five internal child care rooms, kitchen facilities, general amenities and an outdoor play area.
The 60 Rosebank Square site has a strip of old-style shops on it, which were once home to small local businesses including a convenience store.
In May, 2005 the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation of The Republic of China purchased the 1244m sq block of land for $660,000 and have used the shopfronts for their own purposed.
ALP councillor Steve Griffiths told the Southern Star: “Salisbury residents are very concerned about the Rosebank Square development, particularly the issues of the size and scale of the building, traffic and impact on their neighbourhood.
“I attended a public meeting last Sunday with more than 80 residents who expressed their concerns about these issues.
“I also attended a meeting on Monday night with resident representatives and the Tzu Chi Foundation to hear each others’ issues.”
Cr Griffiths said the application would be publicly advertised in the next three months.
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