SPRINGWOOD MP Mick de Brenni has slammed Redland City Council for trying to shift responsibility regarding the Mount Cotton Barro quarry.
“If Redland City Council really are against it, they should do their job and strongly defend their decision in the courts,” he said.
Cr Julie Talty, who ran against Mr de Brenni for the seat of Springwood in the election, hit back saying the MP could clarify the decision with council, rather than through the media.
Last week council refused an application from Barro Group to extend a development approval for the quarry and asked the government to take more responsibility regarding the approval of projects in state-imposed key resource areas.
Mr de Brenni criticised the approval in 2013 of an extension by then deputy premier Jeff Seeney. It had been refused by council.
“The decision of the former LNP state government, under Mr Seeney, to ride rough-shod over the community and approve this development application was a mistake – pure and simple,” Mr de Brenni said.
“Given this development was approved in the first place because the state under an LNP government chose to intervene, I’m puzzled the Redland City Council now wants the state to take over.”
Cr Talty said councils were put in the difficult position of making decisions about developments in KRAs that were declared by the state government.
She said council would defend its decision in court, if necessary.
“However, the point is the state-imposed KRA makes that challenging, therefore rather than imposing the cost of a defence in court on ratepayers, council believes the state should be responsible for the impacts of their policy on local residents,” she said.
“If Mr de Brenni was puzzled by council’s decision he is welcome to call council and get clarification, rather than seeking that clarification through the media.”
Cr Talty said many people would be unaware of the approval four years ago given that more than 440 homes had been built in the immediate vicinity since the KRA was declared.
Mr de Brenni said he was concerned any expansion of the quarry would impact traffic and wildlife, especially koalas.
“So I hope that this development application is now dead and buried.”