Article: Mayor Bob Abbot spruiks green benefits of proposed satellite city ...

[ozbob]

From the Courier Mail click here!

Mayor Bob Abbot spruiks green benefits of proposed satellite city Palmview

Mayor Bob Abbot spruiks green benefits of proposed satellite city Palmview

    * Peter Hall
    * From: The Courier-Mail
    * September 21, 2010 12:01AM

A CUTTING-EDGE residential community bigger than Gympie would "show the world" what the Sunshine Coast could deliver, the region's mayor Bob Abbot said yesterday.

Cr Abbot, whose council has been under immense pressure to accommodate half a million people by 2031, said a "holistic outcome" had been reached on the greenfield site at Palmview.

He said council had secured $600 million worth of infrastructure, including 130ha for community and sporting facilities and 615ha for ecological protection and rehabilitation, from landowners.

The development, which will be home to 17,500 people and deliver tens of thousands of construction and long-term jobs, is immediately south of Sippy Downs/Chancellor Park, east of the Bruce Highway.

More than 9500 dwellings - half of which will be houses and the remainder townhouses and apartments - are in the plan, plus two primary schools, a high school, police station and business hub.

"Affordable housing" will make up 12.5 per cent of homes. A dedicated bus and bikeway will connect Palmview to business and education centres at Sippy Downs to the north and east to a new town centre and the planned Sunshine Coast University Hospital at Kawana.

Mr Abbot said the new community would set the standard for the future. He said the council had endured plenty of criticism from the State Government and development sector for being too slow in approving projects.

"We have taken extra time and steps to give security and guarantees," he said.

"This shows the world that this council is capable of significant planning of greenfield sites."

Asked if he was concerned about the density of the project, Mr Abbot said: "Yes, it's difficult to come to grips with a population climbing to 500,000, but if you are going to deliver it (development), then this is the way to do it."

Not everyone is happy with all aspects of the plan.

Murray Lyons, president of the Sippy Downs & District Community Association, said the north-south greenlink bus corridor ran straight through the lakes parkland area enjoyed by the local community.

Mr Lyons said the association also wanted more detail on road infrastructure and Bruce Highway access.

Landowners include developers Investa Property Group and Juniper and two private landholders.

The plan has been sent to Planning and Infrastructure Minister Stirling Hinchliffe for approval.

[Stillwater]

When fully developed, Palmview will have very good bus connections via 'greenbelt corridors'.  The developer will provide, at his own cost, a bus service for the first five years.  Yes, it is a town the size of Gympie.  Now the state government is pressuring the Sunshine Coast Council to approve a city the size of Gladstone at 'Caloundra South' and, nearby, is the Bellvista development extension, housing another 6000-8000 people.  The Planning and Infrastructure Minister has threatened to take Caloundra South and Bellvista II out of the hands of the council so they can be brought on line as quickly as possible.  Maroochydore will be re-designed to take another 10,000 people in residential development around a new Sunshine Coast City CBD extending over the Horton Park golf course.

The Sunshine Coast has a higher unemployment rate than the average in SEQ.  Jobs growth won't be commensurate with the expansion of these estates, all adjacent to the Bruce Highway.  Many will be forced to take up 'affordable housing' in the new estates and commute to Brisbane for work.   Meanwhile, no rail track duplication to Landsborough and no CAMCOS rail to Maroochydore before 2031.

[Barbar]

.......The Sunshine Coast has a higher unemployment rate than the average in SEQ.  Jobs growth won't be commensurate with the expansion of these estates, all adjacent to the Bruce Highway.  Many will be forced to take up 'affordable housing' in the new estates and commute to Brisbane for work.   Meanwhile, no rail track duplication to Landsborough and no CAMCOS rail to Maroochydore before 2031.

An Inconvenient Truth for Bob Abbot and co