Brisbane Land Co: New Caravan Park, campground planned for One Mile on land owned by Alchemy (QLD) Pty Ltd, George Cheihk

Plans to set up a new caravan park and campground near the Bremer River in Ipswich on land previously approved for a housing estate have been lodged. Here’s what is being proposed.

Plans for a new camping ground and caravan park in One Mile have been submitted on land owned by Alchemy (QLD) Pty Ltd, of which controversial developer George Cheihk is a director.

Plans to set up a new caravan park and campground in Ipswich on land owned by a well-known developer with former links to disgraced ex- mayor Paul Pisasale have been submitted to the council for approval, six months after they were initially knocked back.

Brisbane Land Co lodged a development application to Ipswich City Council concerning a 6.7 hectare site at One Mile in March.

In April, the council advised the plans were not accepted as an application fee of $36,860 had not been paid.

Plans for 46 powered camp sites have been submitted to Ipswich City Council.

The site at 84 Chubb Street near to the Bremer River is owned by a company headed by former high-flying developer George Cheihk.

He is a director of New Chum-based Alchemy (QLD) Pty Ltd and signed off on the application.

In an unrelated deal, Pisasale sold a restaurant site to a company run by Mr Cheihk for well over its valuation, which was then offloaded to the council.

Pisasale took part in the vote giving the property purchase the go-ahead.

It has also been reported previously that Mr Cheihk made donations to Pisasale’s campaign.

Mr Cheihk’s business affairs were examined by the Crime and Corruption Commission as part of its investigation into the council and Pisasale, but he was not charged and the CCC didn’t make any adverse findings against him.

Plans for the caravan park and campground have again been submitted to the council.

The proposed development would be made up of 46 powered sites, an office, 26 car parks and a communal amenity building.

Future concept plans also submitted as part of the application show plans for up to 230 sites.

A pre-lodgement meeting held with council officers in 2019 revealed any permanent residential uses for the site would not be supported due to flood risks.

“The potential for use of the site for temporary accommodation - camping ground and caravan park - has been determined with consideration of the unusual circumstances applying to the land,” the application noted.

“Historical approvals for subdivision have been partly enacted.

“In this regard, the land has been partly improved with formed and constructed bitumen access roads including kerb and channelling, street lighting and underground urban utilities installed as part of the first stage of an urban residential subdivision of the land.

“As part of the partially completed subdivision, park land was dedicated along the Bremer River.

Former high-flying developer George Cheihk.

“The complex history includes the lapsing of the partially enacted approval – because, we understand, headworks contributions were not paid by the developer.

“The approval for subdivision and works undertaken all took place prior to the 2011 floods.”

The application noted the “inability” to revive a previous approval for a housing development was due to a change in policy in response to flood hazards affecting the land.

Squash courts are currently on the site but it is mostly vacant.

“The development seeks to establish a use that appropriately responds to site constraints and takes advantage of existing infrastructure and amenity, and delivering a land use that also promotes visitation adjacent to upgraded/extended parklands being developed on adjacent land along the Bremer River,” the application noted.

“In doing so, the subject proposal will serve to promote economic development and utilisation of the park facilities (part of which was provided by the original developer, at no cost to the community).”

A large residential development is directly south of the site, with a park reserve and the Bremer River to the east, more houses and a park reserve to the north and more houses to the west.

Future concept plans show a much larger development could be on the cards. Approval is not being sought for this many sites at this stage.

“The balance of the site is grassed and unimproved,” the application noted.

“Limited vegetation exists across the site.

“The site immediately adjoins reserve land that is the riparian zone for the Bremer River.

“Part of this reserve land was dedicated to the crown for open space purposes as a condition of subdivision approval.

“It is our understanding from the review of development history of the area that the residential development pattern has not been continued into the southern extent of One Mile due to the flood constraints over the remaining land.

“Consequently, council’s land use and sport and recreation planning has provided for outdoor sport and recreation facilities and public parks to be established where land has been impacted by flood hazard.

“It is understood that council seeks to further establish linear parks along the Bremer River and support the consolidation of sports grounds in the centre of the ‘peninsula’.”

Read more stories by Lachlan McIvor here.

Originally published as Brisbane Land Co: New Caravan Park, campground planned for One Mile on land owned by Alchemy (QLD) Pty Ltd, George Cheihk