I am writing to ask you to reject development application 7787/2008/MAEXT/A to extend the currency period of the approval for AV Jennings to subdivide land at 144 Grampian Drive, Deebing Heights. I am strongly of the opinion that this extension should not be approved.
I am writing to ask you to reject development application 7787/2008/MAEXT/A to extend the currency period of the approval for AV Jennings to subdivide land at 144 Grampian Drive, Deebing Heights. I am strongly of the opinion that this extension should not be approved.
First Nations cultural heritage
This site is of cultural, historical and ecological importance to the local Yuggera Ugarapul people, and First Nations people across Queensland. There have been multiple actions taken since the 1970s to confirm that this is a site of cultural heritage. I understand that the site has been subdivided with a certain portion of the site being identified as Queensland Heritage Registered, however responses from the First Nations community have identified that land beyond that which is heritage registered also has great cultural importance. This important site has already been separated by a major arterial road; I would urge you to listen to First Nations people and halt development in this site.
Significant vegetation
In addition to the site being culturally important to First Nations peoples, the site is also home to areas of unimproved native bushland. With increased development often resulting in urban sprawl, there are fewer and fewer large lots of native bushlands in South East Queensland. This site has also been mapped as Core Koala Habitat under the new koala strategic mapping. Environmental impact assessments taken after the initial approval have identified there are several important species living on the site.
Community dissent
There is clear community dissent for this proposed development. The demonstration of First Nations people and supporters occupying this site to block development clearly demonstrates the community’s opposition to development on the site.
Changed context since initial approval
Newfound matters are relevant to the consideration of an extension to an approval, where the Planning Act 2016 states in section 87:
“When assessing an extension application, the assessment manager may consider any matter that the assessment manager considers relevant, even if the matter was not relevant to assessing the development application”
There has been substantial change in understanding of this site since the initial approval. There has been further archaeological and environmental studies, along with evidence of potential further burial sites which warrant further investigation.
Subdividing this site for car-centric suburban sprawl residential development will have significant negative traffic impacts on surrounding corridors including Grampian Drive and the Centenary Highway, which are experiencing significantly higher traffic volumes than they were when this subdivision was first approved.
I understand that this area has been marked as a major population growth area under the South East Queensland Regional Plan 2017 (ShapingSEQ), however this would be a mark of fast development rather than good development. The state and local governments are funnelling a large number of people into this area without first ensuring beneficial networks and infrastructure. This development is not an example of well thought out development to service and house a community.
Please do not hesitate to contact my office on 3724 9100 if you would like to discuss this matter in more detail.
Kind regards,
Amy MacMahon
Member for South Brisbane