Tuesday, June 10, 2008
State Government push to open green space has given the green light for aggressive urban expansion.
The State Government push to open up more Greenfield developments has given the green light for an aggressive push by developers to urbanize vast tracks of the Redlands.
Woodlands Drive is one of the most picturesque areas of the Redlands, protected from urban development by the Redlands Local Planning Scheme, but it hasn’t stopped the State Government nominating it as a potential site for urbanization. The consequence is that developers have lodged a development application for commercial and residential development over this beautiful area.
As the development application says (see attached), they seek to override the Redland City Council Planning Scheme, and the recent decision by the State Government to open greenspace may have well said they endorsed the development.
The State Government obviously cannot manage growth in SEQ if it destroys the core values of what makes a region so special and unique, and important to the community.
Simon Baltais
WPSQBB
Monday, June 09, 2008
State Government urban fast tracking plan may fast track 100’s of koalas to death.
The fast tracking of development in the Coomera area could see 100 of koalas displaced, leading to their early death through starvation or stress induced disease. The relocation of koalas has proven to be a failure in the past and when you locate 100’s of them it will potentially lead to a miserable tragedy (see below - 2007 media release from Gold Coast City Council).
The State Government announced the development industry wanted more land made available and so they responded. Unfortunately, such a response may force many koalas in the Coomera area to an early death.
Clearly the State Government cannot manage growth appropriately in SEQ. What is clear is that they will sacrifice the environment to support their pro-growth agenda.
Simon Baltais
WPSQBB
Monday, June 09, 2008
People fed up with following the fool’s dream of endless growth.
A growing number of surveys are supporting the view that our population growth is too high and is eroding our quality of life.
A 2006 survey by Department of Environment and Climate Change NSW revealed many believed we are approaching the limit of the number of people the earth can support, 59% to be exact.
More specific surveys reveal local communities don’t support the view that development can continue for ever, recognizing their quality of life, environment and landscapes are being destroyed as a consequence of failing to recognize their region’s limits to growth.
It’s about time our politicians recognize the limitations of what growth Australia, Queensland and the regions can support.
Unfortunately, the recent decision by the Queensland state government to fast track development clearly ignores environmental constraints and supports the fool’s dream of endless growth. The consequence is that only a few will benefit at the expense of many and our environment.
Simon Baltais
WPSQBB
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