Council says SEQ Regional Plan changes ‘bittersweet’
31st July 2009
Redland City Council has welcomed the protection of koala habitat in the new SEQ Regional Plan, with southern Redland Bay no longer identified as a future growth area.
However, Council will now have to consider the implications of the state government also removing the proposed employment zone at Thornlands from the urban footprint.
The area, which had been expected to play a major role in strengthening the Redlands’ economy and employment self-containment options, will now also be protected as koala habitat by being designated as regional landscape and rural production.
Mayor Hobson said the decision, which now meant nearly 900 hectares of land would be protected in the Redlands, was bittersweet.
“We’re certainly delighted the state government has responded to the values and aspirations of the Redland community and taken serious action to help protect bushland koala habitat and stabilise the rapidly declining koala population,” said the Mayor.
“However, we still need to consider how the plan’s emphasis on infill and higher density development within existing centres and transport corridors will impact urban koalas. We are very concerned that accommodating the same growth within our urban areas could still spell the extinction of our urban koalas as they try to traverse safely through them.”
Meanwhile, the elimination of the future employment area in Thornlands came as a complete surprise to Council.
“It was always our position that, in the case of this integrated employment area, best practice sustainable planning would allow for an appropriate balance between the environment and economic opportunities,” Cr Hobson said.
“We now face the challenge of developing other options to increase local employment self-containment in the Redlands. Council will work in partnership with the state government to determine actions so we can continue delivering on this strategy.”
The regional plan directs employment growth “to be focused within the Redlands’ network of multi-purpose activity centres and in an integrated enterprise precinct at Redland Bay” (already under construction at German Church Rd).
Cr Hobson said the removal of southern Redland Bay as a future growth area was a sensible planning decision. “It makes sense not increase the population there when we don’t have the transport infrastructure to support it, and this area will now contribute to the inter-urban break to ensure there isn’t continuous coastal development from Noosa to Coolangatta.”
The Mayor said more transport infrastructure was critical across the city to support the regional plan’s projection of an additional 21,000 dwellings in the Redlands by 2031, with the Eastern Busway the number one priority, followed by duplicating the Cleveland railway line.
“Capalaba is identified as a regional activity centre – along with Cleveland and Victoria Point – but there’s no point increasing residential density if residents there can’t easily commute to the city,” Cr Hobson said.
“We’ll be talking more with the Department of Transport and Main Roads to push for fast-tracking of the busway, along with other priority measure to improve transport, such as high occupancy vehicle lanes, and priority bus lanes at traffic lights.
“We’re also pleased the plan acknowledges the need for improved marine-based infrastructure between the mainland and our islands. It reinforces Council’s approach to addressing infrastructure issues on the Southern Moreton Bay Islands in particular, and we look forward to working with the state government on this issue.”
Cr Hobson said Council also looked forward to working with the state government to ensure the broader growth management outcomes and policies identified for the Redlands in the regional plan were implemented.
