RESIDENTS of a Redland Bay estate fear a car park that council plans to build at Weinam Creek will devalue their homes, be an eyesore and attract criminals.
Resident Steven Komorowski has called for contributions towards a $2000 assessment by an environmental planning solicitor to determine whether court action could be taken against council.
“The best thing we can do is try and get the council to change the plans, or at least to lessen the impact on us,” Mr Komorowski said.
“Who wants to live across from a 600-vehicle car park? We are all concerned because we like living here.”
Council bought the Moores Road farm last year and released a draft plan for the Weinam Creek priority development area in June.
Council said the project’s first stage would include a car park on the farmland and a footbridge between the parking and the Redland Bay Marina precinct on Meissner Street.
Ian Mundey, who has lived in the area for 20 years, said it was a conflict for council-owned Redland Investment Corporation to facilitate the project, when council’s role was to ensure development was done properly.
He said the only community consultation had been around 2013 when the priority development area was declared.
“Since then there’s been no consultation with the community, until we recently received a letter,” Mr Mundey said.
“It seems sneaky and underhanded.
“Development should be controlled and used to enhance the area it’s going into, not impact negatively on it.”
Resident Roy Richardson said the development would negatively affect the value of existing houses.
“The proposed nine cheap 400 square metre blocks and medium density housing on Moores Road will devalue most properties in the vicinity…,” Mr Richardson said.
The residents also fear the project will impact on wildlife and birds, and cause flood water to back up into existing properties.
A council spokesperson said the project would improve the usability of the transport hub, attract visitors, create jobs and drive economic development in the area.
The spokesperson said care would be taken to attractively landscape the area and security measures such as lighting would be provided.
“A thorough traffic assessment study has been completed for stage one and is currently being undertaken for the remainder of the Weinam Creek priority development area,” the spokesperson said.
Council had investigated flood levels and ecological effects, and done a flood and stormwater study.
The spokesperson said council and RIC were seeking to provide public infrastructure requested by the community during consultation in 2013 and 2014.
“Council and RIC will comply with all requirements for public consultation as required by the Weinam Creek PDA Planning Scheme and Economic Development Act,” the spokesperson said.
“Council and RIC have been working together to provide regular updates to the community regarding plans for the area since announcing plans to undertake planning for the project in June 2018.
“Additionally, detailed information regarding each step of the redevelopment is being made available on council’s website.”
