ADVOCACY groups have called for changes to planning laws saying they favour developers.
The South East Queensland Alliance, which includes Redlands2030, says Parliament needs to better protect community interests by imposing clearer limits on what development was allowed, making most developments subject to genuine public scrutiny and objection and requiring full transparency of council and government decisions.
The alliance has drafted a petition that calls for a review of planning laws and the interests of the community put ahead of those of developers.
The petition says the laws are leading to the loss of green open space and conservation areas, koala and wildlife habitat, convenient and timely travel, and infrastructure capacity to meet population needs.
Formed this year, SEQA has other member groups on the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Sunshine Coast.
SEQA spokeswoman Lois Levy said changes to planning laws suited the property development industry, rather than ensuring amenity and quality of life for residents.
“Thousands of south-east Queensland residents suffer daily from inadequate infrastructure, traffic congestion and other impacts of poorly planned developments in their local neighbourhoods,” Ms Levy said.
“Better planning laws would protect residents’ quality of life, guarantee retention of heritage and neighbourhood character and better protect wildlife.
“The pendulum has swung too far from prescriptive planning which the community could understand to so-called performance-based planning and it now seems that anything goes.”
The alliance cited examples of contentious development proposals that did not meet community expectations.
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In the Redlands, the examples were 3600 homes on dredged Moreton Bay Ramsar wetlands at Toondah Harbour, and 4000 homes, when approved, on land outside the urban footprint at Shoreline.
A Planning Department spokesperson said the Planning Act 2016 had returned significant planning authority to local governments and restored appeal rights to people.
“The act also aims to increase transparency, better protect Queensland’s heritage and ensure the community is at the forefront of the planning process,” the spokesperson said.
“It was developed in close consultation with residents, local government, the development industry and the planning profession.
“A number of measures were introduced to ensure decision making is fair, open and transparent including making it mandatory for councils to publish reasons for decisions on development applications.”
The spokesperson said the government published the regional plan for south-east Queensland Shaping SEQ last year.
This was developed with councils after extensive engagement over 15 months.
“We will continue to work with councils to review and refine planning legislation and supporting tools to ensure Queensland’s planning system is operating effectively,” the spokesperson said.
The alliance’s petition at parliament.qld.gov.au/work-of-assembly/petitions/petition-details?id=2989 will be available to sign for six months.
