REDLANDS residents are being urged to have their say on a massive 900-hectare development proposed for Southern Thornlands – a city-changing plan expected to bring up to 24,000 new residents and 8000 homes to the area.
The Queensland Government has opened public consultation on the proposed development scheme for the Southern Thornlands Priority Development Area, framed by Boundary Rd, Mount Cotton Rd and Eprapah Creek.
Acting Mayor Julie Talty said the proposal represented the biggest development ever planned for Redlands Coast.
“This is a large scale, city-changing development and it needs to be done carefully and correctly,” Cr Talty said.
“While this is a Queensland Government initiative, Redland City Council – as the level of government closest to the community – will continue to work with the State to ensure community concerns are heard.”
An early-release area adjoining Springacre Rd is already under construction and is expected to provide up to 1000 dwellings for about 2900 people.
The wider PDA is planned around a target density of 25 dwellings per hectare, with smaller lots and a range of housing types intended to give more families a path into home ownership.
State Member for Redlands Rebecca Young said the Government would ensure essential infrastructure was planned and delivered alongside new housing.
“The Crisafulli Government is investing $2.4 billion to unlock the infrastructure needed to support new housing across Queensland, and Southern Thornlands will be no different,” Mrs Young said.
“We will ensure the critical infrastructure is planned and delivered before new homes are built, not after thousands of new residents have moved in.
“That means delivering the roads, water and wastewater infrastructure, open space and community facilities needed to support growth and protect the lifestyle that makes the Redlands such a great place to live.”
Mrs Young said the Government had already committed $4 million to upgrade the Springacre Rd and Boundary Rd intersection.
“I will continue advocating to ensure the broader road network keeps pace with growth,” she said.
“We need more homes for Redlanders, but we need to deliver them properly – with the infrastructure in place to support them.”
Planning and Regulation portfolio representative Cr Rowanne McKenzie said the State must guarantee the infrastructure needed to support the fast-growing community would not become a burden for local ratepayers.
“Council has previously articulated its position on the PDA, which remains consistent to this day,” Cr McKenzie said.
“It is vital that the PDA appropriately integrates with the surrounding areas and that infrastructure is fully funded by the development proponents to support future growth.
“The Queensland Government expects to collect approximately $544 million in infrastructure charges from new development to fund essential trunk infrastructure, including $256 million for key road and transport upgrades, $137 million for wastewater infrastructure, $29 million for water supply improvements, and $93 million for open space and community facilities required to support the future community within the PDA.
“However, the Queensland Government must commit to fully funding the delivery of critical infrastructure for Southern Thornlands, both within and beyond the PDA boundaries, at no cost to Redland City Council or local ratepayers.”
Economic Development Queensland will work with Redland City Council on infrastructure planning, delivery and implementation.
Public submissions close on September 15.
More information is available at EDQ’s Southern Thornlands PDA page.
