300 condos on the
golf course at Long Pocket
Phone 07 3371 9355 or Email
17 November 2004
Indooroopilly Golf Course Condos proposal
Today's Courier-Mail (26 October) has the front page news that
Indooroopilly Golf Club is proposing to construct some 300 condos on the
golf course at Long Pocket ... and rebuild several of the fairways to suit
... and from the description, this is most likely on the former BCC public
golf course ie along the slope down to the south of Harts Road and from the
Bougainvillea Gardens to Meiers Road.
This raises some interesting questions ... not least in regard to what
"zoning" allows condos on what used to be a zone for "sport" or "special
uses/purposes".... especially as Council has that report suggesting selling
off the golf courses ...! It is with Lord Mayor Newman I understand.
But this proposal for high density housing on public "open space" also
suggests that virtually ANY security that people might draw from the town
plan is now of almost no consequence ... raising the question as to what
our Councillors (our "elected representatives") were doing or did, when
this legislation was voted in Council ...!
Related directly to all of the above, as it forms part of a major regional
"natural" precinct/corridor including the Oxley Creek corridor across the
river, some of you are aware of the NO FENCE campaign and the Friends of
Sandy Creek campaign (the latter aimed at working through what could be
done with St Lucia Golf Course in terms of long term environmental and
public access management once Council agrees that THE FENCE is NOT
essential if a reasonable alternative barrier can be created).
There is to be what seems likely to be a typical BCC type of "consultation"
... on November 7 in a marquee on the corner of Carawa Street and
Indooroopilly Road from 2pm (if you don't have/get the "official" invite
from Council in the mail, let me know). It is "typical" because it is a
means for Council to present and "market" its solutions ... and to "survey"
objections and support although, like Council's proposal for the "green
bridge", highly unlikely any concerns will be heeded ...
It is also a process WITHOUT any opportunity for community consideration
and debate based on prior detailed examination and discussion of the
proposals ... and of course, this process also effectively prevents any
community solutions being prepared and presented as alternatives on the day
... because Council has continued to refuse to agree to a NO FENCE solution
...!
So the meeting (?) on the 7th is the FIRST STAGE opportunity for
"consultation" on the Council's proposals .... which have NOT been subject
to any public discussion etc.
Later opportunities should then occur so that considered "community"
responses can be developed.
You may recall that aside from his tunnels, the Lord Mayor was also elected
with a policy to increase community participation in local planning so we
are doing no more than seeking and encouraging that change from previous
Council practices.
On a larger scale, to accommodate the area of the housing at IGC, we should
also expect further currently "public" and/or "natural" areas of the
original Chandler Park to be cleared and fenced for the revised golf course
layout .. thus further reducing the public park and environmental amenity
of Long Pocket, Indooroopilly and St Lucia (pocket) ...! Another major
habitat and "natural" area of Brisbane under threat from Council's own
"planning".
Interesting to consider how the Council collects the "green levy" to spend
on bushland miles from anywhere while it and some Councillors are obviously
approving the destruction of habitat within 5kms of the CBD ... while
funding re-vegetation of nearby areas at great cost ...!
Stay tuned ...!
Michael Yeates.
WTN RAG