Walter Taylor South Action Group Inc. Protecting the Streetscapes

16 December 2011
 
Dear Resident,
 
I write following the recent consultation process that Brisbane City Council undertook to garner local views on a proposed bikeway to connect Corinda to Rocklea.
 
Originally suggested by local residents, it was intended this bikeway would fill a vital missing link in the network, better connecting residents of Sherwood and Oxley to public transport and local businesses.
 
Unfortunately, your local Councillor has made it clear during the consultation process and in media reports that she does not support the proposed bikeway and in particular the route recommended by Council engineers.  Further she believes Council is forcing a bikeway on the residents of Corinda.  It is certainly not Council's intention to do so.
 

Dear Resident
 
I am writing to update on recent news reports regarding the Metro South Institute of TAFE (Chelmer Campus) located at the corner of Glenwood St and Oxley Rd, Chelmer.
 
As you may be aware, the site has been vacant since the January flood.
 
I was recently briefed by representatives from the Department of Education and Training that the State Government planned to dispose of the site. Their intention was to offer it to Brisbane City Council, prior to offering the site for sale on the open market. Last week, I was advised that Council officers had rejected the site during initial discussions with State Government representatives.

An impact assessible development application has been submitted for this site (not a flood prone site) to raise a house above the height limit.  This has occurred a number of times in this street, and on each occassion a suitable solution was found within the existing limits.
 
The relevant DA A003229007 can be found on council's website where you can respond to this particular request by Friday 16th of December.

A development application has been submitted requesting to be under the old Neighbourhood Plan to evade the new Light Industrial Zoning.

See DA A003211282 on council's website

Extract of details of the application below

This report has been prepared by LandPartners Limited on behalf of Trust Company Ltd ACF RW Invest ATF Ray White Invest Sherwood Property Trust, in support of a request to Council to assess and decide a proposed development application under a Superseded Planning Scheme.

This report is seeking approval for a Request for an application to be assessed and decided under a Superseded Planning Scheme (1st January 2011), in accordance with Division 5, Section 95, 1(b) of the Sustainable Planning Act. We request the Brisbane City Council assess this report and permit a development application to be made in accordance with Division 5, Section 99 (2) of the Sustainable Planning Act for a Preliminary Approval for Building Work on a site adjoining a Heritage Place, Material Change of Use for a Schedule 1 Industry and Environmental Relevant Activity 33 (Scrap Yards) and 37 (Waste Storage, treatment and disposal.) to be lodged and assessed under the Brisbane City Council Superseded Planning Scheme (1st January 2011).

Archerfield Airport consultation 1st meeting: Planned changes and community concerns
On 2nd November 2011, WTSAG representatives attended the Archerfield Airport Community Aviation Consultation Group meeting convened for what has been planned to be the first of three consultative meetings.  The consultative group included representatives of groups with close ties to the airport, political representatives, representatives of known community groups such as WTSAG, and a few individual residents who had a history of being concerned about the airport or who had positions (such as Council librarian) enabling them to be barometers for community concerns about the airport.

CHANGES PROPOSED AT ARCHERFIELD 
Two major physical changes are envisaged at Archerfield.  

• Re-alignment of grass (secondary) runways
• Opening of an extra 5 ha area for development as a consequence of the relocation of runways

The reasons for the planned changes are to

•  Reduce the grass runways’ vulnerability to flooding (11% of the time the grass runways are out of service, and 27% of that time it is because of rain)
•   Allow development of the freed-up land to build dormitories for student pilots (and possibly other activities)
• Open the possibility of commercial flights (smallish planes to carry miners to the fields, for example)

The realignment will have a community impact because the flight paths will differ from the existing ones. Although there was a map showing the previous and proposed runways, it was difficult to see just what impact those changes would have on the surrounding area. During the consultation process we need to understand those impacts more clearly.
 

Prescare have provided advance notice that they plan to undertake a major redevelopment of their Hopetoun site as outlined below and will be contacting the local community shortly.

 
Dear Councillor Johnston,
 
As the Councillor for the Tennyson Ward, I felt it was important to provide you with an update on the status of the proposed redevelopment of Hopetoun in Cliveden Ave, Corinda.  This proposal has been on our agenda for a long time as part of our ongoing commitment to offering a high standard of care to our clients.
 
Hopetoun's current facility dates back to the 1950s and we have now reached the poit where we have renovated as much as we can.  We have closely examined a range of options and have formed the view that the proposed redevelopment is the best long-term option.

In regard to the development application A003102126 The Central Buildings at 307-327 Honour Avenue, Graceville which incorporates our property The Bulk Store at 11 Rakeevan Road, Graceville.  You can view details of the development application on BCC's website at http://pdonline.brisbane.qld.gov.au/MasterView/masterplan/enquirer/default.aspx
 
The public submission period is from 17 Nov 2011 through to 9th Dec 2011.
 
This is a Impact Assessable application due to its Cultural Heritage Place position.

An impact assessable development application has been submitted to council to exceed the Low-Medium Residential zoning in Skew Street, Sherwood.  The plans are for 16 units, 20 car parks, and 4 storeys at 30metres high on a 1000m2 property adjoining existing 2 storey residents, including character homes in the same street.
 
The justification for the relaxations on planning appear to be based on the MP3 retail sector being immediately behind the proposed development.  As we know, transition zones for MP3 sectors were planned to allow a reduction on height to fit in with adjoining residences, so this proposed development would seem to be out of place adjoining 2 storey buildings, and as zoned a 3 storey development would appear to be more appropriate.
 
The period for public consultation has not yet opened, but details of the plans are posted on BCC's website under development application number A003215467
 

The following press release have been made from Cr Nicole Johnston:
 

De Wit Confesses: Corinda Bikeway moved for Bus Depot

 
Brisbane City Council has been caught out admitting the real reason the Oxley Creek Bikeway was moved from its initial location at the end of Kennard Street to Nosworthy Park in Corinda.
 
During a debate on a motion to calling on Council to hold a public meeting on the proposed plan, Councillor Margaret De Wit, Chairman of the Infrastructure Committee confessed that she made the decision to move the proposed Oxley Creek Bikeway.
 
"I said looking at Kennard Street, putting bikes down that street where the bus depot is didn't seem like a real good idea to me," Cr De Wit said.
Source: Council Meeting 15 November 2011