Roads and public transport and mobility concerns
- To avoid developing more CAR-CENTRIC housing estates - public transport and cycling / shared pedestrian lanes must be available. Application does not consider cumulative impacts of other PDA developments approved or in application. Traffic modelling underestimates increased traffic figures - and hence greater roadkill of native fauna e.g. kangaroos, red neck wallabies, koalas.This development should not be approved.
- Appendix H Movement Network Impacts refers to the Salisbury to Beaudesert Rail Corridor Study – Planning (p 6). Local residents have been informed about the ‘possibility’ of passenger rail for the last 30 years, however there are no final plans and no funding for this in 2016. A recent news report in the local Jimboomba Times dated Wednesday 23 November 2016 (page 4) reported Logan City Councilor Trevina Schwarz stating “We’ve been waiting since the 80s to see some movement on the proposed rail line”, “we still don’t have any confidence or confirmation on when and if the project will be delivered”.
- “Station locations proposed as part of the Salisbury to Beaudesert Review of Environmental Factors (REF) Study alter to that of the Greater Flagstone Urban Development Planning Scheme. In accordance with the Scheme, a station is proposed within 500m of the site in the vicinity of Leanne Court, however this location is not finalised, nor is the project committed for further funding.”
The MIRVAC Development Application Report (p25) states “The abovementioned road network provides further opportunities for a public transport (bus) route to be delivered at a later date by Translink “.
- Mount Lindesay Strategic Transport Network Investigation – Strategic Planning (p7) The public transport component of this project recommends the establishment of regional bus networks on major roads within and external to the PDA. Teviot Road is proposed to form part of the regional bus network between Flagstone and Browns Plains. This study is strategic in nature and there is no current programmed implementation of bus services in addition to the very limited existing TransLink network centred on the Mt Lindesay Highway.
Interim Public Transport Service The PDA Development Scheme requires development to contribute to an interim public transport service for up to 5 years or until the fare box income exceeds 30% of running costs, whichever is sooner. The implementation of this interim service will be further investigated in consultation with relevant stakeholders including Translink and EDQ.
It is evident that public transport will not be available in the immediate future – this development should not be approved.
- VEGETATION & HABITAT CONCERNS
The existing vegetation has existing habitat, biodiversity and wildlife value – it should not be removed. This development should not be approved. No offset can replace this stepping stone or these environmental assets, especially at this location in the Greater Flagstone Area.
- “ approximately 2/3s of the site remains vegetated”(Technical Ecological Assessment Report p36)
- On site vegetation surveys confirmed “the majority of the site contains remnant [ endangered, and of concern] and regrowth vegetation [ endangered and of concern]“
- regrowth vegetation – has habitat value as well s e.g. koala and other species
- not of concern vegetation is important for providing connectivity and habitat to remnant vegetation areas
- All vegetation currently on this site provides habitat for fauna
- LACK OF CERTAINTY The development application requests to “ lock in” elements of the CONTEXT PLAN , however, there are other parts of this application where MIRVAC requests “ flexibility” to make future changes e.g. Area 2 is subject to future investigations. However, the community is expected to comment on this Context Plan as it is presented now – the CONTEXT PLAN is intended to “become the principal planning document” for this site. This is not acceptable to the community.
- PROPOSED ‘ECOLOTS’ ( AREA 2 – in SE part of MIRVAC site).
The 70 – 75 Ecolots in AREA 2 should be removed from the Context Plan and added to the Conservation Zone.
- Northern interface area (Northern section of Area 3 – Brightwell St and Campbell Rd). The Northern Interface Area should be removed from the CONTEXT PLAN. This northern section should be retained as a linear park to extend from Teviot Rd to the Conservation Zone.
FLOODING Existing residents in Munruben with properties affected by flooding along Norris Creek ( e.g. Greenhill Rd) may receive greater flood impacts if vegetation is cleared. Clearing vegetation and increasing hard surfaces on the MIRVAC property will increase runoff . Norris Creek flows through sandy soils which erode very easily and increase sediment risks downstream as well.
EROSION RISK Clearing vegetation and increasing hard surfaces on the MIRVAC property will increase runoff which will cause greater erosion risks in the local sandy soils.