Councillor for The Gabba Ward

_{28 February, 2010}

Councillor for The Gabba Ward
MEDIA RELEASE

LORD MAYOR PLANS HIGH RISE ON FLOOD PLAINS

Lord Mayor Campbell Newman’s plan for Brisbane’s Eastern Corridor will encourage high rise development on flood plains in some of the worst areas for flooding in Brisbane, say Labor Councillors.

Councillor for The Gabba Ward Helen Abrahams is concerned the Eastern Corridor Renewal Strategy, which will come to Council this afternoon, has some serious flooding flaws.

“The bulk of this plan is fine, but we don’t want past mistakes and have high rise developments built in flood plains,” Councillor Abrahams said.

“We think it’s worth taking a little bit more time to make sure the flooding issues are adequately addressed.

“Last week, several areas covered by the Eastern Corridor Renewal Strategy experienced flooding. Today, Cr Newman is seeking to approve a plan that will place high rise developments in these areas,” she said.

Councillor Abrahams said the areas included:

• Up to 25 Storeys in the Buranda Station Precinct
• Up to 6 Storeys in the Langlands Park Corridor Precinct
• Up to 8 Storeys in the Stones Corner Residential Precinct

Four of the redevelopment areas included in the plan have streets located within the Q100 flood plain or the overland flow corridor - including O’Keefe Street, Buranda; Gladys Street, Greenslopes and Main Avenue, Panitya and Holdsworth Streets, Coorparoo.

Councillor Abrahams said Cr Newman had failed on his promised to deal with flooding.

“The Lord Mayor’s Suburban Flood Taskforce recommended no development in flood plains, but this plan is proposing 22-25 storey buildings in Buranda within the Q100 flood plain,” she said.

“Cr Newman is asking residents to trust that his plan for high rise development, with increased hard surfaces for driveways and visitor car parks, will not increase the flooding in this area.

“Yet, in the past, residents have seen new development increase the flooding. Once the buildings are constructed it is too late if the flood studies got it wrong.

“With Climate change impacts leading to more severe local storms, the Renewal Strategy should be providing more parkland to manage flooding.

“I called for new parkland at Stones Corner to manage the flooding here and downstream but it was not in the plan,” she said.

However, Councillor Abrahams welcomed the redevelopment of the Old Myer site at Coorparoo Junction.

“A proactive approach is needed to bring forward the redevelopment of Coorparoo Junction. It has remained empty for far too long.

“I welcome the new park land at Coorparoo Junction and Holdsworth Street to managing flooding. It’s a shame these flood mitigations measures haven’t been replicated throughout the corridor,” Councillor Abrahams said.