DEVELOPERS of the controversial residential development on the old Claypave site at Ebbw Vale have defended claims about land clearing, undermining, air quality and traffic issues raised at a public forum.
Queensland Property Group, headed by developer George Cheihk, has proposed 383 residential lots at 21 Whitwood Rd, the old New Chum Colliery mine site, which was previously Claypave and a clay mining quarry.
The mining lease was not surrendered and the site was not rehabilitated as required under the mining lease before Claypave went into administration, and the land was sold off.
The proposed development was referred to an Independent Decision Review Panel by Ipswich City Council.
A total of 170 people lodged objections to the proposal, with a further 60 objections lodged after the submission period closed.
Residents raised concerns about previous mining activity and geotechnical issues, air quality, health, traffic, infrastructure, stormwater and flooding issues.
But project planning consultant Luke Munro from Just Planning said the proposal would rehabilitate the site and bring it back from its unusable and dangerous state to a site that was ready for residential use.
He said it was the only large-scale development in the region within walking distance to an existing rail station and had connections to highways and employment opportunities.
“The development would be of benefit to the community by instigating the rehabilitation clean-up of the site.
Without that rehabilitation, the mining lease could have continued and clay extraction could have been maintained,” Mr Munro said.
He said the commercial centre and smaller 125sqm terrace lots originally proposed had been removed, and the minimum lot size was now 300sqm.
“This is an opportunity we cannot miss in providing a transit-orientated style development with such good connectivity through to Ipswich and Brisbane.
“This is an ideal site to provide for affordable housing, not just the actual product, but the ongoing ability for people to live without a car or to have to drive as often.”
Mr Munro said land clearing and earthworks carried out prior to Council approval for the development were within what was allowable under the mining lease.
Local resident Terry Winston said the history of open cut and underground mining on the development site raised concerns about ground subsidence, citing the 2010 Moreton Geotechnical Services Report on the site which stated the highest level of residential development suitable for the site would be a caravan park around parkland and sports complexes.
“Subsidence poses a risk for any future residential development, but given this site’s history, it is a totally unacceptable risk,” Ms Winston said.
She said current and future industrial activity at New Chum, Swanbank, New-Gen Business Park and Citiswich would make air quality unsuitable for further residential development in the area.
Long-time Ebbw Vale resident Gary Krause said he had serious concerns about undermining at the site.
“I remember seeing the open cut mine and being told by the mining operators and machine operators and their bosses that the open cut had to be stopped as there was slippage on the western site in High St,” Mr Krause said.
“You could see tunnel openings where they had been uncovered and cut through.
“One dozer operator had a lucky escape when his machine fell through the old mine shaft.”
