Eagleby residents to give up homes for ‘second M1’

Up to 125 residents have received letters from the State Government announcing their land would be needed for the ‘second M1’, in a move set to drastically change the character of a suburb south of Brisbane.

Eagleby cane grower Mick Herse received a letter announcing almost 5ha of his land would be required to build the corridor.

Residents living in the path of the “second M1” have been told they will have their homes snapped up from beneath their feet.

Up to 125 property owners in the Logan area have received letters from the Department of Transport and Main Roads announcing their land would be required to build the $2.4 billion Coomera Connector.

Eagleby resident Mick Herse with the letter he received in January.

The connector, also dubbed “the second M1”, is a planned six-lane transport corridor that will run 36km between Stapylton and Nerang to take pressure off the heavily congested Pacific Motorway.

An extension and realignment of the corridor has been proposed between Loganholme and Stapylton to connect the road with the Logan and Pacific motorways.

The Coomera Connector corridor. Picture: Department of Transport and Main Roads

It would then connect with Beenleigh-Redland Bay and Mount Cotton roads.

The department contacted Eagleby and Stapylton residents affected by the planned extension in January.

Residents said they were concerned with the lack of certainty and demanded information on when their properties would be resumed.

Dave Downie has lived in Eagleby for 34 years.

Eagleby resident Dave Downie, whose property has been earmarked for development, said the corridor would run straight through his loungeroom.

He said he stood to lose 240sq m of his 580 sqm block, where he had lived for 34 years.

“The question on everybody’s lips is when?” he said.

“It’s just ridiculous, they’ve told us they’re taking our house but there’s no time frame.

“Residents can’t sell, nobody wants to buy a house that’s under the shadow of a resumption order. Time will tell but the issue is we are left in limbo.”

Eagleby farmer Mick Herse said cane crops are planned for three years in advance.

Sixth generation Eagleby cane farmer Mick Herse said it would be “near impossible” for him to continue farming if the State Government acquired 4.8ha of his land which contained his freshwater supply.

Mr Herse said the connector would take people’s homes, livelihoods, and cripple the local agricultural community.

“There are seven houses disappearing from Eagleby Rd,” he said.

“The old school will be demolished. A lot of people are getting screwed over.

“It’s not about the money, it’s about the lifestyle. The serenity and views, you can’t buy that.”

The detailed plan Mr Herse received that shows which part of his land is required.

A spokesman for the department said community engagement sessions about the proposed corridor were planned for August.

“Through consultation with land owners, TMR considers the unique circumstances of each land owner and their property … on a case-by-case basis,” the spokesman said.

The department said it used an independent registered valuer but had not gone as far as committing funds for construction.

Eagleby resident Alf Schmidt’s family has lived in the area since the 1800s.

Alf Schmidt, 71, has lived on Schmidt Road his entire life and will also lose a portion of his land if the corridor receives funding.

He said he was frustrated with the consultation process.

“The message I got from main roads is they were going to gazette (the northern extension) in April and then have public meetings in August,” he said.

“Well I would have thought you’d have public meetings (first).”

State Labor MP for Macalister Melissa McMahon assured residents that nothing would happen in the “short-to-medium term”.

“This kind of contact from a government department understandably causes some anxiety with some property owners, but it is still early days for this project,” she said.

“A business case still needs to be done for a second M1, and it would need to secure significant funding from the Federal Government for it to go ahead.”

She urged anyone with concerns or questions to contact the department.

Originally published as Eagleby residents to give up homes for ‘second M1’