Residents plan to tangle Brisbane City Council plans up in court

While Brisbane City Council dithers over new rules for townhouse developments, ­disgruntled Forest Lake residents are taking them on in court in a bid to halt some of the latest ­approvals.

WHILE Brisbane City Council has been dithering over new rules for townhouse developments, ­disgruntled Forest Lake residents are taking them on in court in a bid to halt some of the latest ­approvals.

The Forest Lake Action Group (FLAG) which has about 300 members, along with other individuals, have opposed several development applications for more than 170 townhouses across Forest Lake, Ellen Grove and Doolandella.

The townhouse developments are usually planned for 1ha lots, which are common in Ellen Grove and have previously contained a single dwelling.

The suburb already has several developments of clusters of townhouses on 1ha lots and others are now the subject of active ­planning proposals.

After putting in submissions against applications for developments at 150 Lovat St, Ellen Grove, for 40 townhouses and 35 Roxwell St, for 40 townhouses, at least two parties have now filed an appeal against the council’s approval for the projects.

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Lawyer Gregory Huddleston, who is representing some of the FLAG members, said a ­majority mix of ­independent houses with duplexes and a few townhouses would create a more “pleasant” ­suburb.

“Forest Lake is a great area. It deserves better from council,” he said.

Retiree John Saunders said developers had already “decimated” the suburb to build “ugly monstrosities”.

“I’m very concerned that no proper account has been given to koala habitat and wildlife,” Mr Saunders said.

Forest Lake residents John Saunders is working to stall a development plan that would see more than 100 townhouses built near his home. Picture: AAP/Richard Walker

Parked cars already overflow from similar townhouse developments on Roxwell St.

Residents have concerns that sewerage lines are reaching capacity, that syringes are being found in streets and there is no play space, public parks or adequate recreational areas for so many people.

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Forest Lake councillor Charles Strunk has shared many of the residents’ ­concerns.

“Graham Quirk’s council needs to put a lot more thought into the level of high-density development in Forest Lake and right across Brisbane,” he said.

Cr Strunk said the developers in Ellen Grove were picking off blocks one at a time and gaining council approval, without having to take ­overall planning for a ­sustainable neighbourhood into account.

“The Quirk administration has been far too quick to approve high-density development at the expense of green space here,” he said.

Brisbane City Council confirmed the development proposals for 150 Lovat St and 35 Roxwell St, Ellen Grove were both approved in accordance with State Government planning laws.

A council spokesman said it had considered all ­submissions made during the assessment of the development applications and all issues raised had been ­ ­directly responded to.

Both proposals to use the land for multiple townhouses are now the subject of appeals in the Planning and Environment Court.