Tag: Cr Nicole Johnston

Community Protests Development Application for Bushland in Oxley

Photo Credit: Google Street View

Residents have pledged to fight against a proposal to reconfigure one lot at 67 Chapman Place, Oxley into four separate parcels of land. 

The proposed development includes sub-dividing the 12,480sqm lot, which involves changing of zoning from Environmental Management Zoning into Low Density Residential Zoning. Residents believe the DA will put significant bushland under threat.

Proposed subdivision (Photo credit: pdonline.brisbane.qld.gov.au)

The subdivision would result in the disruption of 112 identified flora species and 6 fauna species, the loss of hollow bearing habitat trees, upstream disruption of an identified waterway corridor and the loss of 27 trees. 

Councillor for Moorooka Ward Steve Griffiths, one of those actively fighting to save the bushland and opposing the DA, outlined his reasons for not wanting the project to go ahead. 

Cr Griffiths’ submission targets five main issues; maintaining the existing environmental management zone, loss of wildlife habitat, impact on the existing water corridor, slip zone and safety impacts.

Subject site (Photo credit: pdonline.brisbane.qld.gov.au)

In addition to the issues mentioned above, residents were also concerned that subdividing the land would result in adverse traffic and congestion issues on the already very narrow Chapman and adjoining streets form extra traffic to and from the site.

“It is puzzling as to why this most recent development proposal has even progressed this far, given applications to develop this very area have been met with great objection by the community and rejected four times by Council (most recently in 2016/17). So why is a development proposal being raised yet again?” one resident wrote in a submission lodged to the Council. 

Saving the Bushland from Development

To help save the bushland against the proposed development, Cr Griffiths and Tennyson ward Councillor Nicole Johnston recently made a motion calling on Brisbane City Council to buy it back. ‎

Through the Bushland Acquisition Program, the Council will use funds raised from the Bushland Preservation Levy to buy land that supports significant ecosystems, plants and animals. Brisbane residents and businesses pay this levy in their rates account to help contribute in protecting the city’s most significant natural assets. 

For further information about this development application, see Full DA – A005209604.

Read: Oxley Priority Development Area Gets State Government Approval

Worries Surface About Possible Disruptions Once Indooroopilly Bikeway Construction Begins

Photo credit: Google Street View

Construction for the Indooroopilly bikeway along Radnor St is anticipated to begin in early 2019.

With that in mind, Councillor Nicole Johnston shared her thoughts on the possible impact and repercussions that the project may have on life in the community.  

Cr Johnston is concerned that residents will have to deal with noise disruptions and traffic for a project that will have “little or no benefit” for residents living on the south side.

“The project is a good one but it will not benefit Ambrose Treacy College students, and other cyclists and pedestrians on the southside if it does not connect safely to the Walter Taylor Bridge. My aim here is to make sure the project benefits both northside and southside residents equally,” Cr Johnston wrote in a Facebook post.

The councillor added that it would be a shame if southside residents could see this bikeway but not access it safely and easily.

Referring to the Bikeway Draft Plan released by the Brisbane City Council, Cr Johnston mentioned that it includes an off-road dedicated 5ms wide shared pathway along over the River but does not include a bikeway ramp link to or from the Walter Taylor Bridge.

Photo credit: Brisbane City Council

In response to Cr Johnston’s remarks regarding the project, BCC’s Public and Active Transport chairman Adrian Schrinner said the planned construction works on the south side will be a critical link to the entire bikeway project.

Chairman Schrinner emphasized that there was no suitable location on the north due to “topography,” which leads to the decision of completing construction works on the south side.

He revealed that BCC investigated suitable locations for a temporary jetty and they selected a location at Chelmer because of its close proximity to the works. The Council believes it will reduce potential time and cost impacts and impacts to river traffic that a more distant location would generate.

BCC decided to expand the project into a 6m-wide bikeway and pedestrian path with a design similar to the 900m New Farm Riverwalk which costs around $70 million. The goal of creating the Indooroopilly bikeway is to increase the number of people walking or cycling to work to one-in-five commuters by 2026.

The bikeway project is part of the Council’s Better Bikeways 4 Brisbane program, aiming to create dedicated bikeways and active travel options with a $100 million investment from 2016 to 2020.

Find out more about the Indooroopilly Bikeway project by visiting the Brisbane City Council website.

Read: Maintenance of Walter Taylor Bridge & Other City Structures Goes High-Tech