Rural Environmental Planning Association Inc.

The WBTNI scrapped the concept of a Western Bypass on Thursday, 3 April 2008.  Instead they are considering the possibility of a tunnel from Toowong roundabout to Everton Park.  REPA is very pleased about this decision.

The WBTNI is a very high level investigation addressing the transport needs in the western Brisbane area for the next 20 years.  WBTNI defines western Brisbane as the area west of the CBD extending westwards to the Brisbane Valley, south to the Ipswich Motorway and north to Caboolture.  The project only addresses the need for improvements. 

A sub-committee of REPA , named the Western Brisbane Bypass Action Group (WBBAG), was formed in April 2007 with the objectives of addressing specific concerns of residents regarding a possible Western Brisbane bypass and its location.  Even though the Western Bypass has now been scrapped, they, together with REPA, are still involved in the WBTNI project.  WBBAG has a web-site at www.westernbypass.org and we recommend you visit this site for maps and information.  There is an excellent update on the last Community Liaison Group meeting held on 3 June 2008

The various options under consideration may be viewed on the investigation’s website: www.wbtni.net.au .

At this year's Brookfield Show in May, REPA carried out a survey of visitors to the REPA display in order to gain a better understanding of residents' wishes with respect to transport issues.  The results of the survey are given in REPA 2008 transport survey.

Brisbane City Council is now proceeding with detailed design of the moderate upgrade of gap Creek Road.  A flora and fauna survey  was carried out during the period September - November 2007, and  REPA has been advised that further fauna studies are ongoing.

It is anticipated that a further meeting will be held shortly (October 2008) between City Council staff and representatives of local organisations (REPA, MCCG (Moggill Creek catchment Group), THECA (The Hut Environmental and Community Association), AKF (Australian Koala Foundation)) to discuss the Environmental Impact Statement and other matters.

There was an announcement in the  "Westside News", 14 June 2008, of a $14 million allocation in the current Brisbane City Council's budget for sealing Gap Creek Road.  No further information is yet available.

Earlier in the year REPA responded to Council's request for feedback with the following: -

"The following comments suggestions and requests are made on behalf of the Rural Environment Planning Association Inc. (REPA).

·         Safety  Gap Creek Road is not safe in its present condition for the amount of traffic that uses it.  It is unsafe because of; -

o        The unsealed section which has a loose surface resulting in poor traction, particularly where there are steep grades

o        The steep corners and grades in the southern (sealed) portion, close to Brookfield Road.  Much of this portion is also very narrow.  This southern portion will be very difficult to improve without major reconstruction because of the topography.

·         Traffic  If the dirt section is sealed, more traffic will use Gap Creek Road (the presence of the dirt section deters many potential users).  This will exacerbate the dangerous situation in the southern portion described above.  Many residents in Kenmore Hills, Brookfield and The Gap are concerned about Gap Creek Road becoming a “de facto” Western Brisbane Bypass.

·         Wildlife  Gap Creek Road is the only road that traverses Mt Coot-tha Forest Park.  It cuts across the linkage between Mt Coot-tha and the main portion of the Forest Parks.  This linkage provides the connectivity between these protected areas and allows fauna to travel between them.  Upgrading Gap Creek Road, with the concomitant increase in traffic, will almost certainly lead to increased numbers of road-kills and possible isolation of fauna communities in the Mt Coot-tha section of the Park.

The bush adjacent to Gap Creek Road is currently inhabited by at least two species of wallaby (red necked wallabies and swamp wallabies).  Several koalas have been seen in the last two years; bandicoots, echidnas, brush tailed phascogales and several species of glider are also known to occur in the district as well as three species of possum.  These animals are an important part of Brisbane’s natural heritage and the City would lose much if they were no longer present.

A corridor has been preserved between Moggill Road and the Centenary Highway since the 1970s as a possible link between the two roads.  The traffic situation on Moggill Road is becoming more and more untenable.  As proposed by our local State Member, Dr Bruce Flegg, construction of the route as a bypass for Kenmore would have several advantages, which have been confirmed by the State Government’s preliminary study.  These include the following benefits: -

·         Significant reduction of ‘rat running’ on local streets, particularly Kenmore Road

·         Provision of the opportunity to improve public transport to the local area, possibly allowing       the introduction of a dedicated bus lane along Moggill Road.

·         Substantial reduction in traffic around central Kenmore and Chapel Hill

·         Substantial reduction in traffic around Kenmore State School and the OLR School.

More information is available on Dr Flegg’s website www.moggill.net ,on the Main Roads’ website www.mainroads.qld.gov.au and in the enclosed Newsletter produced by the Main Roads department. 

Residents of the streets adjacent to the preserved corridor are understandably concerned and have set up a website at www.saveourkenmore.com .

About 58% of respondents to our transport survey were in favour of the Kenmore Bypass.

REPA made a submission to the Main Roads Department on the Kenmore Bypass (click to view).

The Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, announced on the ABC News on Sunday, 2 March 2008, that the Goodna Bypass had been scrapped.  Nevertheless, as stated in the "Courier Mail", Saturday, 6 September 2008, p. 21, the main Roads department intends to preserve the property identified as needed for the Goodna Bypass.
 

Proposed Development in Church and Witty Roads, Bellbowrie and Moggill

The developers of this 19.7 hectare block between Church and Witty Roads have submitted a revised application to the Brisbane City Council, Development Application number 906626.  In this application they propose to subdivide the land into 90 lots (there were 100 in the previous application) and they have arranged the lots so as to have smaller lots in the cleared areas and larger lots elsewhere.  In the southeast corner of the block, where there is some good remnant vegetation, they propose that there should be two lots, of 0.95 ha and 1.5 ha, with Building Location Envelopes near Witty Road. 

Recently, in August and September 2008, a further modification to the lot layout has been suggested by Council and a fifth revision of the Hydrologic and Hydraulic report has been provided.

REPA objected to the earlier proposal and has been advised that earlier objections will also be considered to be valid for the recent application.