LOCAL COUNCILLOR DEFIES RENEWAL STRATEGY
31 August, 2009
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Local Councillor for The Gabba Ward Helen Abrahams has called on Lord Mayor Campbell Newman to abandon his Renewal Strategy for West End and South Brisbane because it does not have her support, or the support of the community.
Councillor Abrahams said she does not support the strategy because of the excessive population targets and building heights proposed for West End and South Brisbane.
“I cannot support a strategy that ignores the wishes of local residents and forces building heights of up to 30 storeys onto a community that does not want skyscrapers,” Councillor Abrahams said.
“Cr Newman wants to force 25,000 extra people into an area that currently only houses 8,000.
“He also wants to bring 55,000 more businesses into an area that currently only has 18,000.
“If these population targets and building heights are enforced, the wonderful, vibrant, creative character of West End will be irreparably diminished.
“I know Cr Newman does not understand or appreciate the character of West End, but I am simply asking him to listen to the wishes of the residents who do and overturn this plan,” she said.
Last year, Councillor Abrahams held three community planning days attended by broad range of community members who supported maximum heights of 7 storeys for West End with higher buildings in South Brisbane.
“These wishes have been ignored and instead 12 storeys buildings are proposed where the community reluctantly supported 7 storeys.
“There was never any support for 30 storeys as shown when the community successfully opposed a 16 storey building earlier this year,” Councillor Abrahams said.
“What has happened to the Lord Mayor’s promise when that his Neighbourhood Planning process would let residents have a say about the appropriate scale of development in their street and suburb?
“For five years, local residents have been saying they want to retain the character of the area, the diversity of buildings to help keep a sense of community but Cr Newman isn’t listening,” she said.
A survey of 1,200 people in 2006 showed that people wanted 5 storey buildings in redevelopment areas in West End.
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