A LEAFY tract of land acting as a buffer zone between houses and the busy Victoria Point Town Centre is being sized up for a car park despite being a conservation zone.
Residents in Sycamore Parade, Victoria Point, voiced their concerns after survey pegs were spotted in and around the park land in July.
Plans for the car park were revealed when shopping centre developer Lancini Constructions met the residents and Redland City Council representatives last week.
The 4841sq m land, behind the Victoria Point Town Shopping Centre, was originally dedicated to council following a Planning and Environment Court order in 2006.
The land was handed to council to use for environmental and community recreation purposes and as a buffer zone to the shopping centre.
A spokesman for the developer said Lancini was "in a legal process" over the matter and met with the residents as a courtesy but would continue to keep them up to date.
Sycamore Parade resident Maria Sealy said she was left confused and angry after the meeting.
"The land can't be built on as it is zoned for conservation purposes and its hand over was a condition Lancini had to fulfil as part of the shopping centre development," she said.
"The state government told me last week the land was still in council trusteeship so the state can't sell it back to Lancini because council still controls it.
"We're worried our property values will decrease when the trees are all chopped down and it becomes a bitumen car park.
"Council has not attempted to consult residents over relinquishing trusteeship and the developer has shown they have no respect for previous court rulings."
Redland City Council said it had applied to the state government to relinquish trusteeship of the land at 32A Teak Lane after a council decision in October last year.
However, a council spokesman said the site had become a crime hotspot for vandalism, graffiti, loitering, arson, drunken behaviour, noise, illegal drugs and serious assaults.
The spokesman said before any development could proceed, an application would need to be made to the Planning and Environment Court asking the court to change the zoning.
"The issue of shopping centre interest in the site would be a matter for the state government and applicant to work out," the council spokesman said.
"It has been council's position that it supports use of the land in such a way that it will address anti-social problems that have plagued the area for a decade."
Redlands MP Matt McEachan said he would write to deputy premier and planning minister Jackie Trad to find out what Lancini has to do to acquire the land and what caveats covered the land.
He also said he would write to and meet affected residents.
