Ipswich City Council has approved a new development at Thagoona, which will provide 359 properties and address a growing demand for more housing across this region and South East Queensland.
Sargeant Planning and owner, TPDP 2 Pty Ltd, propose to construct the 359 properties at “Stirling Views Estate” at 48-70 and 84 Pindari Drive and 67-103 Dances Road, Thagoona over 15 stages, which will include parks, major road upgrades, flood mitigation projects and environmental rehabilitation.
Mayor Teresa Harding thanked residents for raising various concerns about the proposed development, specifically the road network, flooding and stormwater, and protecting the environment.
“Parts of Walloon and Thagoona have been slated for urban growth by the State Government for almost two decades,” Mayor Harding said.
“In response to the submissions put forward from residents, Council has worked with the developers to ensure the application addresses local concerns and is conditioned appropriately.
“One of the biggest concerns raised by residents was the capacity of the local road network, and as a result, the development will deliver about 1.8km of upgraded roads in the area.
“Currently, we are seeing the devastating effects of the housing crisis all around us. We simply do not have enough housing – housing of different types, sizes and affordability – to accommodate the needs of our growing region.
“It is my hope this development will go some way in bringing more housing options to our city to start addressing this dire need.”
Cr Paul Tully said parts of the Walloon and Thagoona areas have been planned for urban growth since 2006.
“There was preparation of a planning study between 2003 and 2005 resulting in changes to the Ipswich Planning Scheme in 2006,” Cr Tully said.
“The ultimate plan for this area was included in the Ipswich Planning Scheme as a Land Use Concept Master Plan and the proposed development is consistent with this use.
“The proposed development has been assessed with regard to the applicable assessment benchmarks.
The proposed development generally complies with the assessment benchmarks or can be conditioned to comply.”
Cr Kate Kunzelmann also thanked residents – including 36 who lodged properly-made submissions – and said she believed the development could be approved with the many conditions imposed on it.
“These decisions remain difficult. We have recently welcomed the 250,000th resident to Ipswich, and this development will contribute to the need for housing, which is not to deny the commercial interests of the developers,” Cr Kunzelmann said.
“Council has an obligation to meet the need for developable land and to encourage diversity in dwelling types. This development is part of an orderly process to allow development in areas that have been investigated and earmarked for development.”
Cr Kunzelmann said some of the advantages of the development which will result from council conditions include:
- Groundwater quality improvements, through the recreated waterway and the detention system.
- Road improvements, including the work on Girral Rd and improvements to the intersection with Karrabin Rosewood Road in Stage 1.
- Existing vegetation will be lost but will be replaced over the 10 years of the project.
- There will be an option for all residents to connect to reticulated sewer network.
