STATE Member for Redlands Rebecca Young has defended the reduction of the proposed Weinam Creek car park from about 2100 spaces to 1400, saying the change was necessary to avoid further delays and to get the long-awaited project built.
The revised capacity announced last week sparked questions from residents after earlier discussions referenced a significantly larger car park as part of the Weinam Creek Priority Development Area.
Responding to those concerns, Mrs Young said the higher figure was tied to an earlier concept that would have exceeded existing planning height limits.
“The earlier figure of around 2100 spaces related to a concept where the car park would exceed the current height limits under the planning framework,” she said.
“Pursuing that option would have required a full public consultation process, adding significant time and further delaying delivery.”
Instead, the State Government has opted for a design that fits within existing planning controls, allowing construction of a 1400-space multi-level facility to proceed sooner.
“After years of delays, the priority now is to get on with building the car park,” Mrs Young said.
She said the scaled-back design would still provide “more immediate relief” for Southern Moreton Bay Islands commuters and the broader Redlands community, while leaving the door open for future expansion.
“Importantly, this approach does not limit the long-term outcome,” she said. The structure can be designed to be future-proofed, with the ability to add additional levels over time as the entire precinct comes together.”
The original 2100-space concept had been associated with delivering a significant uplift in parking capacity, previously framed as addressing growing demand linked to population growth on the islands.
Mrs Young said the updated approach was about balancing immediate delivery with long-term planning.
“This is about striking the right balance – delivering meaningful capacity now, while ensuring we can scale up in the future without starting from scratch,” she said.
The project has also shifted into the State Development portfolio, under Economic Development Queensland, a move Mrs Young said was aimed at removing delivery barriers.
“The transition … has been about removing barriers, including land constraints, and unlocking delivery,” she said.
Mrs Young said the Government was now focused on progressing the broader Weinam Creek precinct as a key gateway for Redlands.
“We’re stepping up to get on with the job, delivering the infrastructure island residents need and transforming Weinam Creek into a vibrant gateway for the whole Redlands community,” she said.
