MAYOR Karen Williams says Capalaba MP Don Brown’s move to start a petition to save Birkdale bushland from development is a political stunt that shows ignorance of the issue.
She said Mr Brown had not bothered to phone her about the issue and if he had he would have discovered that the council move to buy the land was aimed at keeping it out of the hands of developers where it would likely become housing.
Council has been negotiating for years with the federal government to secure the 80 hectare block of Commonwealth land at Old Cleveland Road, Birkdale.
The land was put under a future urban footprint designation under the draft South East Queensland Regional Plan, raising fears this would lead to it being developed.
Cr Williams said Mr Brown, as part of the government, would likely already know the land’s designation because he would not risk running a petition against his own administration with an election looming.
“It is apparent Mr Brown has been told by his own government that the land is coming out of the urban footprint and he is using this to score political points in the lead up to the state election at the expense of Redlanders by suggesting his e-petition has resulted in this occurring,” she said.
She said the public notification period on the draft plan closed four months ago and it was now at the point that Mr Brown’s petition and social media posts would have little impact.
Cr Williams said about half the land was already cleared, with the remainder protected by vegetation overlays. “To claim council wanted to develop the site is completely false,” she said.
Mr Brown said it was up to Cr Williams and council to outline their plans for the site.
“They are yet to do that with the public, me or even other councillors, who are also in the dark,” he said.
“Over 2000 people gave submissions calling for the bushland to not be included in the urban footprint and now an extra 1000 through my petition.
“I believe it is beneficial that people have their say and afford the deputy premier the opportunity to listen.”
A spokesperson for Deputy Premier Jackie Trad said the government was aware of community concern about the bushland and would look at the issue carefully.
“We are currently considering all feedback provided during the community consultation period,” she said.
She said the final SEQRP would be released next month.
Bowman MP Andrew Laming said transferring the land to Redland control had been a 12-year project of his and had nothing to do with Mr Brown.
“His petition to eliminate any use of the land effectively kills off Redland’s only chance for a university on that site,” he said.
Mr Brown said that in a Redland City Bulletin article in 2015 Mr Laming said he had been working to transfer the site for nine years.
“This means he has had 11 and half years to find a backer for the university,” he said. “Where are they?
“Instead his government has cut $2 billion from schools and $63 million from Queensland TAFE.”
Mr Laming said Mr Brown could have voiced his concerns during a public consultation period but remained mute until now that he needed green preferences.
“The only positive thing about a petition from Mr Brown to his own minister, is that it will most likely be ignored like his previous petition on Rickertt Road, which led to no state funding or fix whatsoever.”