DEVELOPMENT projects in Thornlands and parts of southern Redland Bay will be investigated for future urban growth.
The state wrote to council last month and told it to remove any reference to rural residential zoning from the city plan, a blueprint for growth in Redlands over the next 25 years.
It also required Thornlands and parts of southern Redland Bay to be designated for future urban growth investigation – going against expectations the state would support rural residential.
The letter was tabled at a special council meeting on Thursday when it was decided unanimously to open the City Plan document up for 54 business days of public consultation from September 14 to November 27.
Redland mayor Karen Williams said she was “frustrated” with the state’s requirements but said people would have more than the statutory 30 days of consultation.
“This will be a concern to some residents in the area bounded by Taylor Road, Woodlands Drive and Springacre Road in Thornlands, which, in the draft plan, is now designated as a rural zone and for future urban investigation,” Cr Williams said.
“This area has experienced a number of changing planning expectations over the years and, as the government closest to the community, council should be able to decide how to manage these expectations in a way that retains our city’s amenity and rural feel.
“Council has nevertheless amended the plan as instructed and has today agreed to the details for public consultation on the amended plan. If people are concerned about these changes they need to make their concerns known by completing a public submission.”
Woodlands Drive resident Eveline Fennelly said the plan was a step in the right direction after parts of the suburb were taken out of the urban footprint in 2009.
“The reference to urban growth is positive and presents like a blank canvas to work with,” Ms Fennelly said.
“A rural residential zoning would have allowed subdivision into two-and-a-half acre lots but it would have meant a whole lot of disjointed developments going ahead without an overarching master plan and infrastructure impacts for minimal revenue return.
“Rural residential would have been a poor planning outcome, not favoured by any other council.
“Urban growth (investigation) designation is better that the previous designation of integrated employment area and landowners in the Thornlands area will need to put forward submissions during the consultation phase.”
Division 1 councillor Wendy Boglary said she voted for the document to be put out for public consultation not because she agreed with everything in the plan.
Council’s City Planning and Assessment spokesperson Cr Julie Talty (Division 6) urged residents to have their say on the document, which she said thoroughly revised and simplified the planning scheme.
Cr Talty said the plan incorporated the state government expected growth target of an extra 50,000 people and estimated 26,000 new homes by 2041.
Division 2 councillor Craig Ogilvie also urged people to make submissions and said people were only just now seeing the damage done by the last plan in 2006.
“That damage will continue for years but it’s important that we don't make it worse with this one," he said.
Consultation plans will be advertised and residents will be able to use online maps to check details of the plan at a street level.
Submissions will be able to be made electronically or in hard copy.
