A Bridgeman Downs Development Application, previously rejected twice by Brisbane City Council, has been under appeal in the Planning and Environment Court since June 2020.
The proposed development includes a petrol station, fast food outlets, child care facility and multiple residences.
The majority of the 415/427 Beckett Road site is listed by the State Government as Core Koala Habitat and is located in a core wildlife corridor between Cabbage Tree Creek to Albany Creek and Dwan Road Reserve which is an important element in the Mountains To Mangroves environmental network.
The dense bushland on the site forms a natural east-west wildlife corridor from Cabbage Tree Creek across Beckett Road to the west and contains Endangered Regional Ecosystem including significant flora species and habitat for significant fauna species. This is the last vital such remaining link in the area and has huge preservation value for native wildlife and future generations.
The current proposal now includes a narrow “wildlife corridor”, which by most wildlife standards is totally inadequate.
The State Government previously dismissed protecting this Core Koala Habitat by acquisition.
Brisbane City Council charge rate payers a Bushland Preservation Levy but has also dismissed preserving the site by acquisition, despite previously acquiring vastly less important land such as property at Carrara Street, Mount Gravatt.
The window is rapidly closing for the Government to go down in history for the right reasons by moving quickly to secure this Core Koala Habitat and wildlife corridor before it is lost forever.
Community members who would like this priceless critical bushland corridor preserved should contact their local Brisbane City Councillor, and also their State Member of Parliament, without delay.
To contact us for comment or further information please email secretary@brisbanecatchments.org.au