Supercity plan

[ozbob]

From the Courier Mail click here!

Supercity plan to cope with population growth in southeast Queensland

Supercity plan to cope with population growth in southeast Queensland

   * by Craig Johnstone
   * From: The Courier-Mail
   * May 25, 2010 11:00PM

THE beginnings of three new cities will rise out of Queensland's booming southeast by the end of next year under radical plans by the Bligh Government to manage population growth by accelerating key housing developments.

The Government's powerful land development body will take control of three greenfield areas in the region's west and southwest to quickly deliver new masterplanned communities set to be home to an extra 250,000 people.

Construction is likely to start in the three areas at Ripley Valley, west of Springfield, and Greater Flagstone and Yarrabilba, in Logan's south near Jimboomba, before the end of next year.

Premier Anna Bligh said the new "model cities" would "work better than anything we have seen in Queensland before".

She said the model cities would allow children to walk to school, workers to catch public transport and families to enjoy ample green open space. But fast tracking development of these areas may add to the region's urban sprawl, with the new satellite cities located up to 40km away from the centre of Brisbane.

They will require the Government to expand its much-vaunted urban footprint and may add pressure to existing transport links while new infrastructure, such as the Springfield rail line, due to be completed in 2015, is built.

The move also contrasts with the spirit of the Southeast Queensland Regional Plan, which dictates that most of the forecast 750,000 new homes the region needs over the next 20 years should be built in existing suburbs.

Fast tracking development of these areas on the region's urban fringe means that at least one in every four homes on greenfield sites in southeast Queensland would be built there.

The Urban Land Development Authority's takeover of these development areas is the centrepiece of the Government's response to its growth management summit, which highlights the challenges of dealing with the region's predicted rampant population growth.

The ULDA will now take planning control for the identified areas from the Ipswich and Logan councils to assess their capacity to deliver more than 100,000 new homes.

The authority will have about four months to put forward the sites as Urban Development Areas, and another 12 months to bring the first housing lots to market – a timetable that could lead to construction before the end of 2011.

The ULDA now controls nine significant development sites throughout Queensland, including key parcels of land in Mackay, Townsville and Gladstone as well as large landholdings at Bowen Hills, Hamilton and Fitzgibbon in Brisbane's north.

The Government is hoping the authority will allow development of affordable and medium density housing to keep pace with population growth.

An extra two million people are expected to call southeast Queensland home over the next 20 years, bringing its population to 4.4 million by 2031.

[ozbob]

CM Blog comment:

Hello, the public transport must be there to use!  Promises are not enough, actions to put the sustainable mass transit in place now, that is rail.  Demonstration of a real commitment by continuing on with the Springfield line from Richlands today.  The construction crews are in place, it will much more cost effective and of benefit to the community to keep on laying the line.  Build the stations at Ellen Grove and Springfield Lakes together with Springfield greenfield.  Ensure the line is double track all the way to Springfield.  Get cracking with the Petri to Kippa-Ring line, push on with the duplication from Beerburrum to Landsborough. Stop the insane wast of funds on half baked road projects, it is not working and will collapse shortly.  Get cracking with rail today.

[ozbob]

Premier and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Anna Bligh
26/05/2010

THREE NEW MODEL CITIES FOR SEQ

Three brand new SEQ cities that will become Queensland?s first model communities are to be master planned by the Urban Land Development Authority Premier Anna Bligh announced today.

The ULDA will take responsibility for three major greenfield areas in the south and western growth corridors of SEQ. These are Ripley Valley, Greater Flagstone and Yarrabilba.

Ms Bligh said the major growth policy initiative would see the successful ULDA model used to plan whole cities in Queensland for the first time.

"These will be model communities where children can walk to school, workers can live near to their public transport and families will be guaranteed greenspace for recreation and the lifestyle that Queensland is famous for," said the Premier.

"For the first time the ULDA will be the "architects? of entire cities and what that means is that these new cities, which will be home to around 250,000 people, will work better that anything we have seen in Queensland before.

"Driving population growth west will take the pressure off precious environmental areas and our sensitive coastal areas.

"Developers will follow a plan that has been designed entirely for the benefit of the people who will live there and they will deliver quality affordable housing.

"We?re seeing this work at places like Fitzgibbon Chase in Brisbane right now and what today?s announcement means is that it is time to take it up a notch."

Minister for Infrastructure and Planning Stirling Hinchliffe said once declared, the Urban Land Development Authority (ULDA) will become responsible for the planning and assessment for developments in the new cities.

"During the recent Queensland Government Growth Summit, the need to develop strategic growth centres to tackle the housing availability and affordability issues facing Queensland with a sustainable and coordinated approach was identified," he said.

"The ULDA has the ability to assist developers, council and the state government resolve some of the remaining hurdles to get these development areas to market.

"The initial planning work by the Ipswich Regional Council and Logan City Council indicates that development within these three areas has the capacity to deliver in excess of 100,000 new homes upon full development.

"The government will now start the process to have these sites declared Urban Development Areas (UDAs)."

The Minister said the ULDA has just 12 months to complete a development scheme for each of these areas once the UDAs are declared.

"Completing the development schemes within this timeframe will only be possible thanks to the structure planning work already undertaken by the state government and local councils," he said.

"However, under the standard development process, these sites are likely to have difficulty in early delivery to market because of the need to co-ordinate and fund local infrastructure."

ULDA CEO Paul Eagles said the ULDA will be able to bring an extra focus to these issues as well as innovative and practical solutions to enable financially viable, staged infrastructure to be delivered.

"A preliminary investigation reveals that the sites are not greatly fragmented, so once the outstanding infrastructure issues are resolved, first stage development areas could be identified and brought to the market early," he said.

"Early delivery of housing in each of these areas will provide a steady supply of well priced housing to address the continued high demand in SEQ arising from the high migration to Queensland."

During the recent Growth Summit, the expansion of the role of the ULDA into greenfield sites in regional areas was announced. Since then the ULDA has already progressed work rapidly on three sites in Townsville, Mackay and Gladstone with the proposed development schemes for the Mackay and Gladstone sites being released for public comment this week.

Mr Eagles said the development scheme for the Townsville Oonoonba site is well advanced and a proposed structure plan is expected to be released for public comment in mid-June.

"All three projects are on target to have the civil construction works commence by the end of the year.

"The ULDA has proven with its Fitzgibbon Chase project that land could be brought to market within twelve months of declaration and this target will be set for each SEQ greenfield UDA.

"In addition to the early release targets, designation of these sites as UDAs will also provide the opportunity to set targets in relation to housing diversity, employment and training and ecological sustainability requirements."

The ULDA will now work rapidly undertaking the necessary discussions with the Councils, infrastructure investigations and documentation to allow for cabinet consideration by the end of September.

==============================================================

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Public transport before new cities: Lord Mayor

Public transport before new cities: Lord Mayor
TONY MOORE
May 26, 2010 - 3:40PM

Lord Mayor Campbell Newman wants greater transport infrastructure south of Brisbane before more cities are built.

A new busway or light rail should be built down between Brisbane and Brown Plains or Beaudesert as a "down payment" for new city sites identified this morning by the state government, Lord Mayor Campbell Newman said today.

Cr Newman said public transport was the key to the success of each of the three new cities at Greater Flagstone and Yarrabilba, in Logan, and Ripley Valley near Ipswich.

"It's essential to have great public transport so that people don't travel in from these areas and clog up Brisbane's overloaded road network," Cr Newman said.

"We need a busway, light rail or heavy rail and preferably we'll also see jobs down in that region in the corridor between Beaudesert and the Southern outskirts of Brisbane - say around Browns Plains."

In March, Cr Newman threatened to walk away from providing bus services in Brisbane if other councils did not chip in with funding.

Today, the Lord Mayor said public transport must be improved between Brisbane and Ipswich as the state government begins to decentralise public servants to Ipswich.

"I think government can play a huge role by locating public servants in these new areas but this has to happen in a very careful way," he said.

"What we don't want is for people to move into these settlements, new townships and mini cities and have to by cars and then commute vast distances across south-east Queensland.

"So we need the public transport, we need the jobs in those locations, and if that happens, I think it's a good solution."

However, Cr Newman rejected suggestions that the state government was simply promoting urban sprawl.

"Well that's what I was saying before, about the need to recognise that the state government are not letting Brisbane, for example, off the hook in terms of the requirement to put new dwellings into the existing city," he explained.

"We have to put 156,000 new homes into Brisbane over the next 20 years, and there is no sign that they're saying that that's no longer a requirement."

Cr Newman said new urban areas near Ipswich and Logan could take the pressure off the Sunshine Coast.

"I think though that this will take the pressure off some local government areas where communities are saying that they don't want the new dwellings," he said.

"So for example on the Sunshine Coast, there has been quite a reaction against the growth and I think by going into the area particularly between Beaudesert and the Southern outskirts of Brisbane, that that's a compromise solution."

[Jon Bryant]

Campbell "Do as I say not as I do" Newman stikes again

[ozbob]

From the Logan West Leader 2nd June 2010 page 9

State warned on super city infrastructure

State warned on super city infrastructure
By MARK FLACK

LOGAN City Councillor Hajnal Ban has moved to douse excitement over the proposed Greater Flagstone super city, saying millions need to be spent on infrastructure before the first home sites can go on the market.

The councillor said any moves to fast track development at the site without providing major transport upgrades would have severe impacts on residents. The State Government earlier this year rejected a costly proposal to introduce passenger rail services on the interstate freight line which runs through Flagstone. Cr Ban believes they now have to look at reassessing that proposal, as well as making major improvements to road arteries such as Cusack Lane and Teviot Rd.

"In order to get it going they (State Government) have got to pull their weight and commit to funding some infrastructure," she said. "And rail is going to be the key to Greater Flagstone. The interstate rail line is there, the corridor is there. What needs to occur is that a passenger line needs to go through."

The plan has also failed to impress conservation groups who railed against the idea after last week's announcement. The Queensland Conservation Council said the move ignored public sentiment which showed significant support for population stabilisation.

Executive director Toby Hutcheon said the general view at a recent growth summit was that there were concerns over population growth's threat to livability and the environment.

"(The) announcement proposing a further growth agenda and more greenfield developments simply reveals a government out of touch with its people and with little intention to listen," he said.

But Logan Mayor Pam Parker welcomed the plan, saying revenue generated through the new areas would help fund muchneeded infrastructure.

Cr Parker said council had been in discussions with the State Government for 18 months. "It's an exciting day for our city as this will mean more jobs, more investment and more infrastructure for Logan," she said.

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Way cleared for new SEQ cities

Way cleared for new SEQ cities
September 27, 2010 - 4:45PM

Three new southeast Queensland communities have been given special approval to deliver up to 120,000 new homes.

Premier Anna Bligh announced today that communities at Ripley Valley, Greater Flagstone and Yarrabilba had been declared urban development areas.

The areas, in Brisbane's southwestern and western growth corridors would represent 15 per cent of housing demands over the next 20 years, she said.

The declaration means the Urban Land Development Authority (ULDA) now has 12 months to prepare development schemes for the areas.

Ms Bligh said early-release precincts in each community had been identified that could see construction of almost 3000 homes in a year.

The communities could potentially see 120,000 new houses at prices cheaper than comparative homes, she said.

"Instead of ad hoc building with one or two or three developers doing a little bit here or there, these big master-planned communities give us the chance to get infrastructure right, green space right and affordable housing mixes so that everybody has a chance of buying in," she said.

AAP

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Flagstone residents rail against new city

Flagstone residents rail against new city
Marissa Calligeros
February 9, 2011 - 2:46PM

Residents near bushland being bulldozed to make way for a planned satellite city are mounting a fierce and growing battle against the sweeping powers of the Queensland government's Urban Land Development Authority.

Greater Flagstone, west of Jimboomba, was chosen during the state government's Growth Summit last year as the site for a new satellite city to absorb 130,000 new southeast Queensland residents in 21 years.

But some of the existing 4000-strong population fear cheap houses will be built en masse without thought for necessary infrastructure or their rural lifestyle.

Resident Mike Kelly, founder of the Save Greenbank campaign, said concerns had fallen on deaf ears in the state government, while the mass clearing of land continued without their consultation.

"The ULDA is bastardising the existing culture and lifestyle here for fast-tracking purposes, which are completely inconsistent with the real needs of the community," he said.

Mr Kelly said residents on acre blocks would soon have up to seven neighbours along their fence lines.

"There are no guarantees for the development of infrastructure ... even the repair of existing roads," he said.

"There are no guarantees that new houses will be made affordable for first-home buyers, rather than investors. We are being kept in the dark here."

The ULDA, which was established four years ago with powers to acquire and consolidate suitable land and move it quickly to the housing market, has also been at the centre of battles with residents on the Sunshine Coast about the unfettered development of their communities.

Tonight, more than 500 Greater Flagstone and Greenbank residents are expected to gather at a public meeting to voice their concerns.

Greater Flagstone was among three sites, including Yarrabilba near Logan and Ripley Valley near Ipswich, set aside to become brand new cities.

More than 1000 hectares of land has now been opened for development in the Greater Flagstone area, closest to Greenbank West, under the first stage of the project.

"The developers are going to make a fortune and move on, while our lifestyles and the retail values of our homes are going to be destroyed," Mr Kelly said.

"We are about to lose our rural lifestyle completely at Greenbank."

Ted Fensom, co-ordinator of the Brisbane Region Environment Council, said he was most concerned about the bulldozing of land in Greater Flagstone long before adequate environmental studies were conducted.

"There has been little to no exploration of the demographics or environment," he said.

"No one is looking at the sedimentation, [or] turbidity. There's no one looking at the hydrology in terms of stream flows and no one looking at the flood gauging where major creeks cross roads in the area.

"We're losing biodiversity hotspots, bio-regional corridors and connectivity right across greater Flagstone."

Logan councillor Hajnal Black, who will attend tonight's meeting, said the state government was forcing high-density development into the area "without an ounce of proper infrastructure".

"For instance we need a rail passenger line now, yet the state government says we can wait until 2036," she said.

"Local roads are at absolute capacity, there are limited community facilities, there is zero public transport and nothing for teenagers or children to do, yet the faceless men at the ULDA think we should squeeze thousands of more residents into our area."

ULDA chief executive Paul Eagles said the authority had not approved any areas of bushland for clearing.

"We are currently reviewing existing work and undertaking additional biodiversity studies for the Greater Flagstone [area]," he said.

Mr Eagles said representatives from the ULDA met with concerned residents last night and offered to meet with them again.

"This development application is currently out for public notification which provides the local community with the opportunity to comment on what is proposed," he said.

"During this period people are able to write to the ULDA to express any concerns. The ULDA will then review these submissions and require amendments to the development application if necessary."

Mr Eagles said infrastructure requirements would be outlined in a draft plan for the area, due to be released for public consultation in March.

[#Metro]

At this point in the game I actually agree with the Greenbank residents.

What are the chances that is is going to be anti-public transport road layout, and the chances that there will be no rail line or that it will be pushed back and there will be just shocking public transport there. It's Springfield Lakes all over again- governments just don't seem to get it.

[Golliwog]

At this point in the game I actually agree with the Greenbank residents.

What are the chances that is is going to be anti-public transport road layout, and the chances that there will be no rail line or that it will be pushed back and there will be just shocking public transport there. It's Springfield Lakes all over again- governments just don't seem to get it.

I'd actually think that if the ULDA is involved in the planning it would be designed to support PT. As they say, even if its not going to be put in for a while, it is planned to have a rail line.

[colinw]

I hate the idea of Flagstone.  If we want to develop something like that, why not do it much closer in (e.g. Browns Plains / Forestdale area, or the old Greenbank Army land).  Putting 100,000 people all the way out at Flagstone is madness, unless we spend an absolute fortune on long haul rail & road infrastructure.

The rail corridor is there already, and is plenty wide enough to take a separate commuter line.  The existing line even has a half finished (and apparently stalled) dual gauge conversion in place all the way to Flagstone, so theoretically an el-cheapo DMU starter service could be run for much less cost than electrification.  I'm not really in favour of that idea 'though - the line as it is now is not particularly suitable for commuter use as yet, no stations and very few loops, but given that it only carries a fraction of the freight traffic that the North Coast Line via Nambour does I don't entirely buy the idea that commuter operations have to be kept entirely separate.

The main thing preventing rail being developed down that way is the lack of CRR.  No capacity over Merivale Bridge.  The line now being in ARTC hands is also an impediment. I do still think it best to keep the interstate operation separate from the commuter operation, but maybe now funds are limited something cheaper could be done?

[ozbob]

Twice the past week or so I have had occasion to observe Centenary Highway 'car park' just east of Ipswich Highway in the morning.  It is a parking lot most days.

Ipswich Highway is also jammed up with vehicles,  the billions spent on roads has just further exacerbated the mess.

Go back a few weeks, Ipswich line closed, buses Rosewood - Ipswich - Darra.  Privately I pressed very hard for the buses to run up Progress Road into the lovely bus bays at Richlands rail. No, the buses took around 20 -25 minutes to get from Wacol into Darra, with much bus stacking at Darra (buses waiting to unload).  The authorities could not even exercise some commonsense and do the obvious (and get a little bit of glory).  Going up Progress Road and into Richlands rail is a few minutes ...

These two things just confirm the absolute mess a succession of under performing, mediocre governments and their inept bureaucracies have actually achieved - Failure.

It is time for the broom, a new force!

Flagstone is just another of a long list of failures ...  grief and despair as the oil crisis impacts ...

[#Metro]

I'd actually think that if the ULDA is involved in the planning it would be designed to support PT. As they say, even if its not going to be put in for a while, it is planned to have a rail line.

Yes, but without CRR, those absolute earliest that those people can get a train is in a decade- 2020.
Developments can grow very quickly. You could have a whole Springfield pop up there in 10 years.

Those people will be driving. They might get a bus service, but it is very far. Given the 'direct bus mantra' I suspect they will be putting more buses
on and that these will travel all the way from Flagstone to the busway and then to the CBD. And because that will cost a fortune, there might be peak hour
expresses and then at all other hours of the day, the service frequency will die- once every 30 minutes perhaps. That's what I think will happen.

I would not mind a park and ride a bus in this situation, given the circumstances.