AN eleventh-hour meeting has won a reprieve for residents opposed to the draft Wynnum Centre Suburban Renewal plan.
Public consultation on the draft plan, which was to close last Sunday, will be extended a further two weeks, with submissions closing on November 23.
A small group of residents held a last-minute meeting at Wynnum Library last Thursday, attended by Wynnum Manly Councillor Alex Givney, to raise their concerns.
During the meeting, Cr Givney gave an assurance she would request an extension and confirmed later consultation would remain open until November 23.
At the meeting, residents raised concerns that the higher density building would not include any new green space, new community facilities or adequate additional parking, and pressure would be put on water and sewerage infrastructure.
The constraints on Wynnum’s road network – including two low bridges and the level railway crossing – were also raised as a concern.
Residents also questioned why the threshold for tower heights was at 15 storeys.
Cr Givney said feedback from developers informed the planning team that increased heights were needed to make development profitable.
She said the Suburban Renewal Precinct Plan was an initiative to curb urban sprawl, and increasing density in the suburb’s centre would preserve low-density housing along the waterfront and in surrounding streets.
“Our city needs more homes, and my priority is to ensure that higher density development doesn’t extend into our residential streets or along the waterfront,” Cr Givney said.
“By keeping this plan focused exclusively on the Wynnum CBD, we can prevent urban sprawl from creeping into bushland areas, protect residential neighbourhoods from rezoning pressures, and preserve our iconic waterfront.”
A letter has circulated in the area urging residents to “say no to Brisbane City Council’s proposal to destroy Wynnum’s quality of life”.
The letter calls for the draft plan to be scrapped.
“With no prior community consultation, Brisbane City Council has created a detailed developer-led plan for an unnecessary increase in the density of Wynnum Centre, which will have a devastating impact on our suburb, our community, and the unique character of Wynnum,” the letter states.
“Wynnum Centre is currently zoned to accommodate substantial additional housing and commercial development, with height allowances far exceeding the scale of existing buildings.
“This plan must be scrapped and replaced with a community-led precinct plan that does not further increase building heights and instead reflects community needs.”
To have your say on the draft plan, email neighbourhood.planning@brisbane.qld.gov.au.
