Lord Mayor ignores the wishes of thousands
21 December, 2009
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The Lord Mayor has ignored the wishes of thousands of petitioners and hundreds of submissions in his amended plan for South Brisbane and West End.
The Lord Mayor made no changes to the proposed 30 storey skyscrapers. The new population of workers and residents will be approximately 80 000. This is in spite of 4,171 signatures on 8 petitions and 493 submissions.
The main concerns raised in the submissions were traffic, the 30 storey heights and the 15 storey height for the ABSOE site in Boundary Street. None of these concerns were addressed in the amended plan.
In fact, the amended plan has increased the building heights facing Musgrave Park from 5 storeys to 8 storeys.
“One small welcome change is the removal of the 5 storey building heights along the majority of Boundary Street. The proposal for five and eight storey building heights was outrageous. It would have destroyed the much loved, vibrant Boundary Street shopping strips.”
Local residents are fighting for their community. Their call for community facilities was ignored. There are no additional facilities such as schools, sport fields and green parkland or affordable housing. Yet the residential population is predicted to grow by 440%.
“The Lord Mayor knows that the residents overwhelmingly reject his proposals for this area. Why else would he release the amendments just days before Christmas?”
“He is treating the residents of West End and South Brisbane with disdain. First there were no submission forms or closing date. Next, he releases the amended plans when people are enjoying the Christmas holiday break.
The Lord Mayor should call a public meeting to explain his decision to local residents. Instead he hides behind the festive period of the year. It is a sneaky approach to community consultation.
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“He appears hell bent on destroying the community and culture of West End. He is determined to have skyscrapers to rival the towers of Dubai’ said Cr Abrahams
“The Lord Mayor is changing a livable and diverse suburb into one that is hostile, homogenous and sterile by planning for skyscrapers and not a community” said Cr Abrahams.
The changes are to:
• retain three storeys height limit for the majority of the development along Boundary, West End
• increase the height of buildings permitted between Melbourne and Russell Streets from five to 8 storeys on lots less than 1,800sq metres
• remove the height differential between commercial and residential buildings in Kurilpa Precinct and clarify that mixed used development is preferred
• change the precinct boundary at Brereton Street