Residents of Grosvenor Park Estate and surrounding streets have voiced strong opposition to the proposed development at 5–23 Lind Street, Thornlands, saying it fails to reflect the existing character and zoning of the area.
Locals say they will not support the proposal unless it complies with the current zoning requirement for minimum 6,000-square-metre lots and is supported by the appropriate infrastructure.
Division 3 Councillor Paul Golle said the proposed application was inconsistent with the established scale and character of the neighbourhood.
“Traffic on Lind Street and Ziegenfusz Road is already heavy, and parking is tight,” Cr Golle said.
“Adding 40 undersized lots will bring more than 100 additional cars, worsening congestion and creating safety risks.”
Residents are particularly concerned that the developer is seeking to carve the land into much smaller lots, despite the larger lot size zoning that was specifically designed to maintain the area’s semi-rural feel and protect residential amenity.
There are also fears about the loss of mature habitat trees on the site, with locals noting that tree removal has already begun despite the environmental sensitivity of the area.
“These trees have taken decades to establish — removing them now would take generations to replace,” one resident said.
Community members argue that Council is not obliged to approve a proposal simply because it meets technical requirements if doing so would unreasonably diminish neighbourhood amenity and quality of life.
They also warn against the misuse of the ‘affordable housing’ provision as a loophole to fast-track higher-density development.
“Affordable housing should not be an excuse for developers to profit at the expense of existing residents who have invested heavily in their homes,” Gr Golle said.
Cr Golle has presented a petition on behalf of residents, with more than 60 formal submissions already received opposing the proposal.
He said preserving the current zoning “reflects years of Council work to protect the character and living standards of the surrounding homes and to safeguard residents from excessive traffic congestion.”
Residents are calling on Redland City Council to uphold its own guiding principles — that development should enhance the lives of residents, not merely serve developer interests.
“This proposal falls short of Council’s commitment to supporting and protecting the community,” another resident said.
