New Brassall shopping hub, medical centre development halted

The development of a major shopping hub in the booming Ipswich suburb of Brassall has halted because of environmental legislation.

Ipswich City Council has pulled the pin on a major shopping hub at Brassall after the State Government strengthened the state’s legislation to protect koalas and their habitat.  

The development of the stretch of land along the Warrego Highway,  Bulloo Crescent and Diamantina Boulevard has long been sought after for mass development by Fabcot Pty Ltd.

Woolworths’ development division Fabcot had originally planned to build 51 homes on the bushland, and later a major shopping hub which allocated spaces for shops, businesses, and a medical centre. 

Picture: 28 South Environmental

However, the Ipswich City Council has since pulled the pin because any development would wipe out vital koala habitat.

The council refused to extend the time period of Fabcot’s application to build the shopping hub which was originally approved by the Planning and Environment Court - invoking a fresh legal claim.

An Ipswich City Council spokesman said although the development had been approved, legislation had since changed.

“In February 2020 the State Government released updated legislation aimed at strengthening the protection of koalas and koala habitat vegetation,” he said.

“Under the new legislation, the development site is mapped as containing koala habitat areas.

“The matter is before the Planning and Environment Court awaiting a further decision.”

NEW PLAN: Landpartners and Fabcot revised their plan to divide the lot into 51 blocks, down to nine, while retaining a large portion of bushland. Although the Ipswich City Council went ahead with the refusal. Picture: LandPartners

An environmental impact report by 28 South Environmental stated, “the proposed development will remove 1.24 hectares of vegetation providing habitat for the matters of national environmental significance koala and grey-headed flying fox’.

“The long-term loss of koala habitat from the Site is 1.16 hectares, (however) the clearing will not affect any flora.”

Landpartners Project Manager Ryan Trussler said the project had been ‘significantly reduced’ in size to limit land clearing.Fabcot has since launched an appeal in court in an attempt to override the council’s decision and move forward with the development.

Originally published as New Brassall shopping hub, medical centre development halted