Re: Submission: 161 Underwood Road DA and public ownership (Application Ref.: A005333870)
Religious facility development
We ask for your support for Runcorn and its liveability.
A waterway corridor, along Wealth St Park, Runcorn, and local pedestrian access in an emerging community, needs to be considered for public access, not private development. Developers should not determine residents’ quality of life and environmental outcomes. Public ownership of waterways and pedestrian paths is a must.
The waterway corridor traverses the land, its walkway/bikeway and local access in an emerging community area. The addition of a major facility and a potential intense commercial development will compound effects on the local community and environment.
B4C put forward an additional submission (12th May, 2021). The relevant addition was:
That Council considers the dedication or procurement of the Waterway and Environmental Protection Zones to be dedicated as Parklands in the ownership of BCC.
We believe this development is against the intent of the earlier court hearing as per evidence in the transcript, the wishes of the local community, the environmental future of the waterway and its wildlife. It is lacking in innovation towards public accessibility and safe access.
The existing developments, either side of Underwood Road, are substantive urban developments. Add the approved religious facility, to be built on 161 Underwood and the current DA for 161A, a commercial development. Looking forward, you then have a major urban development on Warragul Farms, just to the south.
The area is a major emerging community area, with significant environmental value and natural amenity. It’s an area worth investing in with our best planning to achieve much needed social development, including your well-being and liveability.
Our proposal is simple enough, notwithstanding that the entire northern side (of the waterway corridor) at 161 Underwood Rd should be acquired as parkland. The best outcome would be:
a) secure the waterway corridor in public ownership and
b) utilise the north-south environmental vegetated buffers (in preliminary plan) as access to an extension to the walkway/bikeway from Toorak Place to Underwood Road.
The access path would locally join with the Bulimba Creek Bikeway, extending from Wally Tate Park all the way to Underwood Road (east of Gateway Arterial). Linking to the walkway/bikeway and potentially to the nearest retail market centre, cnr Underwood Road and Gowan Road.
Please consider these concerns and contact your local representatives, including Cr Kim Marx. Runcorn.ward@bcc.qld.gov.au and/or phone 3407 0566.
We also thank Councillor Kim Marx for obtaining advice from the chair of Environment (re: CO10586-2021 – Protection of the waterway corridor at 161 Underwood Road, Runcorn).
Upcoming event
