Rural Environmental Planning Association Inc.
Rural Environmental Planning Association Inc.
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Newsletter No. 5/2004 November 2004 REPA wishes all our members a safe and happy holiday season. We have enjoyed the recent rain and hope that we shall have good rains this summer. It is good to see the grass looking green again. “Draft South East Queensland Regional Plan” Since our last newsletter, the release of the new “Draft South East Queensland Regional Plan” has changed our horizons considerably. It is an important planning document and decisions made now will continue to affect our lives and surroundings for years to come. I therefore encourage you to study the document; it is available on the Office of Urban Management (OUM) web-site www.oum.qld.gov.au and I have been advised that our MP, Dr Bruce Flegg, has copies available at his office, Unit 5, Princeton Court, 18 Brookfield Road, Kenmore. Submissions on the draft plan are required by 28 February 2005. REPA will be making a submission. We should be very pleased to receive any comments you may have regarding the plan. The draft SEQ Plan covers the region from the NSW border to Noosa and west to Toowoomba and encompasses 18 local governments including Brisbane City Council. The plan is endeavouring to prevent the whole coast from the border to Noosa becoming one continuous conurbation. It seeks to provide separation between the urban centres and to protect the scenic and environmental attributes of the region. The plan explains that SEQ is the fastest growing metropolitan area in Australia and that it “presents the opportunity to manage this growth and associated change..”. The plan is based on current estimates of population growth in the area and reviews will be conducted every five years. It can be questioned whether or not it is desirable to attempt to control such population growth. The draft SEQ plan differs from earlier plans in that it incorporates legislation at this early stage. Earlier regional planning programs such as SEQ 2001 and SEQ 2021 and their associated planning documents, Regional Frameworks for Growth Management, 1995, 1998 and 2000, were non-statutory. The legislation in the new plan is in Part G and became effective on 27 October 2004. The plan subdivides the region into five areas:-
Most REPA members live in the first of these areas, the RLRP Area. Areas around Bellbowrie are in the Urban Footprint. You can find out which Area you are in through the OUM web-site (address given above). The RLRP area comprises about 80% of the whole SEQ plan area, a fact that the OUM planners are keen to emphasise. The new plan restricts development and subdivision in the RLRP and other areas and these restrictions override local planning scheme rulings. The minimum lot size for future subdivision in the RLRP Area is 100 hectares, subject to certain conditions. Housing density in new developments within the Urban Footprint is to achieve a minimum density of 15 dwellings per hectare. This contrasts with the Bellbowrie Local Plan, which nominates a maximum of 7 – 10 dwellings per hectare. This draft SEQ plan has many merits but its success depends on State Government and Local Authority support both physically (in terms of planning decisions) and financially. In REPA’s opinion, the State Government has not demonstrated its willingness to put financial support into such initiatives in the past. The plan also includes some proposals for traffic infrastructure including a “Western Brisbane road network investigation”. This is of great concern to residents of the REPA area. A further “SEQ Integrated Transport Plan” is to be released next year. REPA is of the opinion that heavy traffic from the Warrego and Cunningham Highways destined for places north of Brisbane should travel via a route along the Brisbane Valley Highway alignment. REPA is most concerned about any proposal that would involve a road through Brisbane Forest Park. Dr Bruce Flegg, our State member, is holding public meetings to discuss the plan. They are to be held at; The Brookfield Hall, Tuesday, 7 December at 7:30 pm Mt Crosby Hall, Wednesday, 8 December at 8:00 pm Kenmore State High School Activity Centre, Thursday 9 December at 7:30 pm All residents in the Moggill Electorate should have received an invitation to one of these meetings, unless their mail is delivered to a PO box.
Subdivisions at BellbowrieTwo members of the REPA committee and two members of the Moggill Community Association (MCA) are to meet with Cr Hinchliffe on 2 December to discuss subdivision provisions in Bellbowrie. Les Thompson has drafted some Codes which REPA and MCA submitted to the Brisbane City Council for consideration for incorporation into the Bellbowrie Local Plan. The object of these Codes is to provide for better adherence to the existing Plan through the provision of the suggested Codes and consequently to prevent future subdivision into small lots of less than 900 m2 in area. Subdivision application for land at 66 Ellerby Road and 84 Livesay Road, Moggill approved REPA has been advised by Brisbane City Council that the application for subdivision of 66 Ellerby Road and 84 Livesay Road into 50 lots has been approved, subject to conditions. The conditions include a requirement to provide a Vegetation Management Plan, which is to include a wetland rehabilitation program and other measures to protect existing vegetation. REPA submitted an objection to this application to the City Council in August on the grounds that the proposed lot density was greater than that envisaged in the Bellbowrie Local Plan, the development would have adverse traffic implications and have a deleterious effect on neighbouring properties. Ministerial Designation for the Vet Farm In October, REPA received notification that Ministerial Designation has been made for the University of Queensland land at Pinjarra Hills. The designation is for “works required for the proposed provision of higher education with associated teaching, research, laboratories, social and public support functions,…”. The designation is subject to conditions relating to impacts on Moggill Road and community consultation in the event of planning for major redevelopments. Gap Creek Road REPA is liaising with The Gap Community Association over our mutual concerns relating to the suggested sealing of Gap Creek Road and the possible western bypass. Gold Creek dam REPA has a representative on the Gold Creek Dam Remediation Liaison Committee. Work is due to start on strengthening the dam wall in January. Wild dogs Wild, feral and uncontrolled dogs are becoming a hazard in several places. Please look out for both lone animals and packs; if anyone should see any, could they please report the sighting either to Glen Alchin, feral animal contractor, at wmfacs@optusnet.com.au , or ring Cr de Wit’s office, 3403 0220, or the BCC call centre on 3403 8888. The last is available on a 24 hour basis. Proposed National Park The Environmental Protection Authority is proposing a new National Park on the D’Aguilar Range. It is to include existing National Parks and areas of State Forest. It will not include BCC owned land, e.g. land around Gold Creek dam. A map of the proposed park can be seen at: - http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/parks_and_forests/management/south_east_queensland_forests_agreement/maps/ and then click on “D’Aguilar range in the bottom right hand corner. With all good wishes for a Happy Christmas, John Bristow Chairman, REPA, 84 Essendon Road, Anstead, 4070 Phone 3202 6534 Fax 3202 8836 Jenny Hacker Secretary, REPA, 41 Gap Creek Road, Kenmore Hills, 4069 Phone 3374 1468 Fax 3374 0609 Website www.repa.org.au Email jbhacker@powerup.com.au |
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Last updated: 7 January 2005 |
