THE first three stages of the 4000-dwelling, $2.3 billion Shoreline development at Redland Bay have been approved by Redland City Council.
All councillors voted for the project flanking Serpentine and Scenic roads and which will eventually house about 10,000 people.
The 279 hectare project has faced stiff opposition as the area was originally zoned agriculture and was not included in the state urban development footprint area.
Regardless, the government approved the project in 2015.
Several councillors told council that they had opposed the project but, given it had reached the detailed planning stage, there was no point voting against it.
It was submitted to council in October, 2014, and the first 205 lots will range in size from 405 square metres to 645 square metres.
Cr Julie Talty told council the project would run over about 15 years.
Mayor Karen Williams declared a conflict of interest but said she would vote on the project as it was in the community’s interest.
Outside council, Cr Williams said the applicant had been asked to do more work before the green light was given for a further two stages.
Council approved one stage but agreed to the other two stages only if the applicant could prove there would be no impact from a nearby poultry farm.
“Under our planning scheme, residential properties can’t be built within 500 metres of a poultry facility and we aren’t yet satisfied the homes proposed in these areas won’t be impacted by odour,’’ she said.
Cr Williams said that when complete, Shoreline would deliver $100 million in infrastructure, including major upgrades to roads and tens of millions of dollars in other infrastructure at no cost to ratepayers.
“The project will not only create new homes for our residents, but also generate thousands of constructions jobs, as well as an estimated 1800-1900 other new jobs within the Shoreline urban area after construction.”
Cr Talty said the first stage would trigger upgrades to intersections at Giles/Gordon/Redland Bay Rd, Boundary St/Redland Bay Rd and Double Jump/Redland Bay Road.
“The state government has also conditioned multi-million dollar upgrades to eight major intersections over the life of the development and road works north and south of the development, including the duplication of Serpentine Creek Road,’’ she said.
“Before any residential lots can be sold, the applicant must also get approval for a dedicated wastewater treatment plant.”
Cr Wendy Boglary and Cr Lance Hewlett said they had opposed the project but the approval before council was at a point where they were able to support it.
The project includes a 2.2km foreshore park, sporting fields, community centre, restaurants, 70 hectares of open space and the planting of 350,000 trees for wildlife.
Ironically, Shoreline came up for a decision on the same day that two property owners addressed council, arguing they should be allowed to develop large slabs of land in southern parts of the city.
