REPA NEWSLETTER

 

Rural Environment Planning Association Inc.

 

 

Newsletter No. 2/2005                                                                                                                May 2005

Print Post Approved PP439224/00011

 

 

Repa’s Annual General Meeting

REPA’s AGM was held on Monday, 4th April, in the Brookfield Hall.  We have retained the Management Committee with minimal change.  We welcome Anna Williamson onto the Committee.  Anna, who lives in Moggill, is also a member of the Moggill Community Association and has helped us with our work on the planning problems in Bellbowrie and Moggill.  Richard Tumman has sadly felt it necessary to resign due to numerous overseas work commitments.  We have appreciated his contributions and hope that he will be able to join us again in the future. 

 

The evening was very informative, the talk this year was given by Mike Shapland on a subject of much concern to residents, “Does Brisbane need a Western Brisbane Bypass/Ringroad?”.  Mike explained the difference between a bypass, which would avoid Brisbane, and a ringroad, which would take traffic around the edge of the City.  He then went on to examine the problems associated with the construction of both a possible ringroad and a possible bypass.  The topographic challenges that would be involved in the construction of a bypass are considerable and would be very expensive to overcome as substantial tunneling would almost certainly be required.  The construction of a ringroad would also face topographic challenges, but, significantly, it would have to pass through residential districts, causing substantial disruption and disaffection.  Mike concluded by questioning whether or not Brisbane really needs a western bypass or ringroad and that perhaps it should concentrate on the “T” shaped road system that has already been developed, utilising the Bruce Highway / Gateway arterial and the Warrego Highway / Logan Motorway.

 

We were fortunate to have both Cr Margaret de Wit and Dr Bruce Flegg attending our meeting.  Both thanked REPA for our work done in the area.  Cr de Wit spoke about her concerns regarding the increasing density of development in the district and raised particular concerns about a proposal for a Child Care Centre to be built behind Kenmore Village Shopping Centre and the traffic problems that it would be likely to create.  She also discussed the future of the Moggill Country Club and advised us that the Child Care Centre proposal at the corner of Kangaroo Gully Road and Church Road, Bellbowrie has been approved.  REPA had objected to this proposal on the grounds of traffic safety.  Cr de Wit considered it ‘to be a traffic problem in the making’.

 

Dr Flegg spoke about his concerns over the proposed Goodna bypass and is pushing very hard for any proposed bypass not to cross the river at Moggill.  Dr Flegg is also making sure the community’s views are put to the State Government regarding the proposed western Brisbane transport investigation.  On another issue, he is particularly concerned about the presence of asbestos roof fibres in samples taken from Moggill State School, which he considers to be totally unacceptable.

 

The 2005 Brookfield Show

REPA will host a display at the annual Brookfield Show again this year, but we shall be in a slightly different location.  This year we shall be closer to the Hall but still next to the Moggill Creek Catchment Group.  Our display will focus on the recent planning initiatives affecting the REPA area.  These include the Office of Urban Management’s draft South East Queensland Regional Plan and the recently released South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan and Program 2005-2026, as well as the Brisbane City Council’s new Neighbourhood Planning scheme.

 

We hope that you will visit us at the REPA display.  This is one of the main opportunities that we have to meet our members and to respond to your concerns.

Moggill Road

We are all agreed that the traffic situation along Moggill Road has become intolerable.  Last year REPA wrote to the Minister for Main Roads to ask about Main Roads’ criteria for approving subdivisions where Main Roads is a Concurrence Agency for that subdivision application.  Main Roads referred us to their Guidelines on the matter.  REPA committee member, Les Thompson, has studied the Guidelines carefully and concluded that unless the relevant subdivision will increase the traffic by more that 5%, then Main Roads disregards it.  There is apparently no provision for the incremental traffic increase, by amounts smaller than 5%, such as has occurred on Moggill Road over a period of years.  Consequently, REPA has made a submission to the Department of Main Roads, requesting a change in the manner of assessment in such situations.  We are awaiting a reply.

 

REPA is also in the process of writing to the Department of Main Roads to enquire about the provision of a cycle path along Moggill Road.  We have been advised that the plans for widening Moggill Road near Kenmore do not include provision for a cycle path.  REPA considers that provision of a cycle path would have many benefits.

 

Brisbane City Council’s draft Pest Mangement Plan

REPA has responded to the City Council’s draft Pest Management Plan.  REPA considers that the aims of the Plan are excellent; we are all most concerned that introduced plants and animals are posing increasing threats to native flora and fauna and the need for the removal and/or control of these pests is vital if Brisbane is to continue to enjoy the benefits that the presence of our native flora and fauna provide.  REPA’s main concern with the draft Plan is the extent to which its admirable desired outcomes can be achieved.  REPA was also concerned as to the reasons for the plan ignoring some species, such as fire ants, the cane toad, certain mosquitoes and rats.

 

Bellbowrie

Members of REPA and the Moggill Community Association (MCA) had a further meeting with Brisbane City Council representatives on 17 March to discuss the increasing urbanisation problem in Bellbowrie.  The meeting itself was singularly unproductive; nevertheless as a result of it, Cr Cashman is going to examine ways of either bringing the Bellbowrie Local Plan review forward and/or investigating the possibility of progressing the implementation of the Codes (to tighten up the existing Bellbowrie Local Plan) that REPA submitted to Council last year.

 

Neighbourhood Planning

Four REPA representatives attended the Brisbane City Council’s Community Forum on 8 March for the launch of Council’s new Neighbourhood Planning proposal.  The City Council intends to involve the community more in the planning process in the future.  Information about this should be available at our display at the Brookfield Show.  Neighbourhood Fairs are going to be held to promote Neighbourhood Planning, the nearest Fair for our area will be at the Rocks Riverside Park, Seventeen Mile Rocks on 10 July.

 

Proposed Road Closure, Upper Brookfield Road

There is a notice advertising closure of a part of Upper Brookfield Road, on the north side of the road, to the west of Peronne Place, going out.  This part of the road comprises an old alignment and is now used by horse-riders, pedestrians and cyclists.  Its closure will force these groups to use Upper Brookfield Road itself, posing a serious safety issue.  Enquiries can be made to Dept Natural Resources and Mines on 3884 5346.  Submissions should be received by 2 June 2005 and should be addressed to DNR & M Ipswich Office, PO Box 864, Ipswich 4305.

 

Infrastructure Planning Workshop

Two REPA members attended the recent workshop on 26 April held by the Department of Local Government, Planning, Sport and Recreation to learn more about the new Integrated Planning Act requirements for Infrastructure Plans.  In the future, Local Authorities will be required to prepare Priority Infrastructure Plans and to levy a charge on new developments to cover the costs of providing that infrastructure.

 

Membership

Many members have already renewed their membership for 2005.  We thank you for that as REPA can only function effectively if it truly represents members of the local community.  Membership renewal forms are attached or enclosed for those whose memberships are outstanding.

 

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AT THE BROOKFIELD SHOW.

 

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