Fiteni Homes wants approval for residential housing subdivisions on the Botanix site in Wellington Point
Fiteni Homes plans to remove dozens of koala habitat trees from the Botanix site in Wellington Point when subdividing 64 house blocks, with a large area reserved for future development.
Botanix site subdivision plan lodged 8 October 2018
Development application RAL18/0125 was lodged by Fiteni Homes on 8 October 2018. Redland City’s new planning scheme started the same day.
The developer’s Planning Report says this application is code assessable under the new planning scheme and does not require public notification.
House blocks in the proposed subdivision range from 444m² to 910m² with about two thirds of these blocks less than 600m².
Fiteni Homes plans to have 31 house blocks between Main Road and the Botanix garden centre. A further 33 house blocks would be subdivided west of the garden centre, as Stage 2.
The central part of the site, about 2.6 hectares, is earmarked for future development which “may not be for low density subdivision”. Possible future uses include retirement home or “other non-standard residential accommodation”.
Undeveloped land to the north of the Botanix site is a Council transport/green corridor.
Koala habitat trees
Mapping of vegetation by BAAM, included in their Ecological Report
Fiteni Homes proposes to remove all trees from those parts of the site proposed for residential subdivision, because of “civil engineering and drainage requirements”.
The Planning Report says:
Any non-juvenile Koala habitat trees present within the mapped environmental significance overlay and within the State mapped medium-value rehabilitation habitat for Koala will be offset in accordance with the Environmental Offsets Policy.
An Ecological Report by BAAM found evidence of koala activity at various places on the site.
It also noted that the site has “a number of large old-growth, hollow-bearing trees which provide important resources for arboreal mammals and birds”.
Trees will not be removed from a small portion of the site protected by State Government mapping as Medium Value Bushland for koalas. This koala Bushland is shown in green on the map prepared by BAAM.
BAAM’s Ecological Report says there may be an increase in “fauna/vehicle interactions” because of traffic resulting from the proposed residential development.
There’s no need for proposed tree clearing to be referred to the Federal Government under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act, according to BAAM’s report.
Botanix garden centre history
Botanix site in 2012 Photo: Redland City Bulletin
Fiteni Homes bought the Botanix site for $6.85 million in 2012 at mortgagee auction according to a Bulletin report.
Originally a flower farm, the site was transformed into a Garden and Lifestyle Centre in 2005. The business closed in 2010.
The property was then bought by used car salesman John Creswick in August 2010 but his redevelopment plans were never realised.
Questions?
As a code assessable application without any requirement for public notification, there will not be formal opportunities for community consultation about the proposed development and associated tree clearing.
But questions and comments about this proposal, and new Redlands planning scheme, can still be put to elected councillors.
Here are their contact details.
If you think development applications such as this one should be publicly notified, giving the community an opportunity to lodge comments and objections, then sign the petition for better planning laws.
Google Earth satellite maps showing the local area in 2017 and 2009.
Redlands2030 – 15 October 2018
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3 Comments
OH NO!!!! Why can’t developments incorporate mature trees into their planning???? It’s a disgrace that the community’s values which are known – continue to be shredded.
Along with many in Redlands, I cringe on hearing the name ‘Fiteni’, developer with deep pockets who it seems has the power to do as he pleases. Knowing history of how Fiteni & Co build estates, there will be no old growth trees left, there will be no koala trees left, degradation and a cleared landscape will be the end result having seen personally how the environment and Redland people, have been treated here in Capalaba. Sadly for Capalaba residents, there is resentment paying for a ‘dud’ representative said to be, for reasons best known to himself, now tied firmly to mayor’s apron strings denying locals a voice in Council. Capalaba is in gridlock a.m. and p.m. rush hour traffic today. Many residents avoiding Finucane Rd & drive on Old Cleveland Rd East towards work places in Brisbane, one local leaves 5:00 a.m. to work at the ‘Gabba in order to arrive on time. No politician speaks about deaths and injuries from vehicle crashes we have seen on Finucane Rd and near misses on other local roads that will worsen as each new housing development is completed. Driving home from Carindale shopping centre, to avoid rush hour traffic, leave around 2:00 p.m. How bad does congestion have to get before State and local governments pay attention to upgrading the rail network referred to as the ‘misery’ line so people can get to work on time. City employers should introduce staggered hours for staff where possible that also would ease traffic flow a.m. and p.m. All levels of government need to find solutions to ease traffic congestion as emphasis is on developing housing estates as fast as possible filling the air with fumes from mostly diesel powered motor vehicles, that produce higher levels of particulates, with microscopic bits of soot left over from combustion process. Motor vehicles are responsible for 70% of SEQ air pollution. Does any politician at any level, care about health of its citizens?
Have you noticed in the Redland City Bulletin over the last couple of weeks that 1/4 and 1/2 page adverts are placed by Redland City Council, reminding residents about the importance of being koala conscious, especially when driving? These adverts are therefore paid by the ratepayer. Then we see, almost on a weekly basis, another site with mature eucalypts in known koala areas, being developed by companies such as Fiteni and Ausbuild, for small and medium lot housing. Responsible development is one thing but the current rate of small and medium lot housing development is far exceeding the capacity of our existing roads to handle the congestion and the koalas are simply being driven out. Yet some councillors and local politicians speak about the word “tourism.”