Campbell Newman’s outrage a Political Ploy
23 July, 2010
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Councillor Helen Abrahams, The Gabba Ward objects to Councillor Campbell Newman’s two faced approach to redevelopment of Woolloongabba.
The Lord Mayor’s attack on the State Government proposal is in direct contrast to his proposals for South Brisbane in spite of my opposition and strong opposition from local residents.
Councillor Newman says he is concerned that the redevelopment of the GoPrint site “might lead to slums in Woolloongabba” (Brisbane Times 22July 2010) yet he is proposing redevelopment of similar heights in South Brisbane.
To prevent potential slums, Campbell Newman is calling for “public open space at the base of these buildings... plazas and gardens and the like."
The Woolloongabba redevelopment site includes a central green park yet no new park is proposed in the South Brisbane Riverside Neighbourhood Plan in spite of high rise buildings being designated in an area three times the size of the Woolloongabba redevelopment site.
“It is a clear case of the Lord Mayor playing political games.” said Cr Abrahams
The Lord Mayor ignored the residents of South Brisbane and West End when he pushed through building heights of 20 or 30 storey buildings in their suburb.
“So what is the difference in this case?”
“I would have thought the Lord Mayor would have stayed quiet”
After all, the improved Busway station and the CrossRiver project are State Government infrastructure not Council projects.
“My position on high rise redevelopment remains the same. I support 6 to 8 storey development as it is demonstrably more environmentally sustinable.”
“There will be a few sites where higher development may be appropriate but not 30 or 40 storeys” said Helen Abrahams