Rubyanna Investments gets approval for 256-home estate at Kalkie

A 256-lot housing estate in Kalkie has been approved for the region amid heated debate over traffic issues and stormwater runoff.

The approved development off Ashfield Road will deliver 256 new residential lots across nine stages, along with drainage and parkland.

A 256-lot residential development in Kalkie has been approved by Bundaberg Regional Council, despite concerns about traffic safety and stormwater management.

Developer Rubyanna Investments’ proposal would include reconfiguring one block into 256 residential lots across nine stages, along with areas specifically for storm drainage and a park reserve.

Block sizes would range from 500sq m to 1,097sq m.

The land, off Ashfield Rd, falls within council’s “emerging community zone,” earmarked for urban expansion under the 2015 planning scheme.

Councillors backed the plan unanimously but noted there were still challenges the developers had to address to move ahead.

The approved development off Ashfield Road will deliver 256 new residential lots across nine stages, along with drainage and parkland.

Councillor Carmen McEneany said key nearby intersections like those at Bargara Rd and Ashfield Rd, and Telegraph Rd and Ring Rd, were already unsafe and would worsen with growth.

“They are heavily trafficked, poorly vegetated, and simply not up to standard — particularly with one being adjacent to a primary school,” she said.

“There’s only one acceptable solution here — they both need traffic lights.
“No more delays. No more pushing back. The state government just needs to fix them.”

Mayor Helen Blackburn said road upgrades were a condition of the development under the state’s response to the plan.

“There’s not going to be a whole lot of extra traffic on those roads until those intersections are upgraded,” Ms Blackburn said.

Bill Trevor was concerned with the lack of maintenance for existing detention basins.

Bill Trevor questioned council’s responsibility for the proposed detention basins.

“I just wonder, what is the necessity in some of these areas, when the whole town’s been developed without swimming pools in the past — now all of a sudden, it seems to be the flavour of the month,” he said.

Council officers confirmed the basins are required and are not meant to retain water long-term.
“Yes, we maintain them … they’re not to have water in them — obviously not a significant amount for a period of time,” Ms Blackburn said.

Tracey McPhee said she had seen the consequences of leaving the basis out of plans.

“There’s a lot of areas in my division that should’ve had detention basins,” she said.
“We’ve got all sorts of drainage problems now because of how early developments did happen.”

May Mitchell left the meeting for the debate and did not vote on the plan after declaring a conflict of interest

Originally published as Rubyanna Investments gets approval for 256-home estate at Kalkie