THE council has snubbed protestors and given the go-ahead for 140 two-storey townhouses in Flinders View.
This was despite the strong opposition from neighbouring residents. The council claimed that there was a desperate need for more accommodation in Flinders View given the current housing crisis.
The application, lodged to Ipswich City Council on 22 May by Azure Development, gave plans that would 348 trees cleared in the nature corridor that is home to dozens of species. Residents also believed the boost the suburb’s population in a way the area would not be able to handle.
The council received more than 300 objections from residents, although 180 of them were not “proper” and could be ignored legally. It passed the application to the Independent Decision Review Panel.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said, “Council is often called on to make difficult decisions with the potential to significantly impact the community. It is never easy, but councillors are tasked with making decisions that provide the greatest benefit and best outcome for the city as a whole.
“Ipswich’s population is forecast to more than double in the coming decades from 250,000 residents to 528,000 by 2046, which will require more than 100,000 additional dwellings to accommodate this growth.
“Queensland is currently facing extreme housing pressure and developments such as this will deliver much-needed housing product and diversity to the market.
“Every day I have residents talking to me about the housing crisis in South East Queensland and they beg all levels of government to address affordable housing for so many in our community.”
The mayor did not discuss whether the housing problems extend to Flinders View in particular nor did she address residents’ specific expressed concerns.
However, she noted, “I certainly understand residents’ concerns, council must assess applications against the Ipswich Planning Scheme. In this case, the development is appropriate for the zoning in this area, complies with the planning scheme, and 33 conditions have been included to address the concerns raised by residents and council.”
Many submissions to the council indicated a concern for the wildlife of the region.
“This building application will remove more parkland walking tracks which i and hundreds of other people use daily as well as the wildlife which will suffer including kangaroos all types of birds including Ducks and Frog Mouth owls,” one said.
