Earlier this month, we held our first community forum to explore how we can make the Milton high density riverside area a more vibrant neighbourhood. As the Milton area undergoes rapid development, residents are becoming increasingly concerned that the Council administration and State Government are putting the short-term profits of big developers over the long-term wellbeing of our communities. Without sufficient setbacks and mandatory deep-planting standards in the current planning scheme, developers are free to turn this suburb into a concrete jungle.
At the event, Cr Seal and Stephen Bates (MP for Brisbane) presented background information about the current issue, how we got here and the possible avenues forward. Participants than broke up into small groups for deliberation around a series of questions. Below you can find a report of the outcomes from the session, followed by Cr Seal's response. Please reach out to our office if you would like to receive updates about this important campaign.
Greening Milton Forum Outcomes
1a. Where should new parkland be located?
There was a clear consensus that extending Milton Urban Common at Manning St is a top priority. Residents felt that the recent listing of 7 Manning for sale, and the neighbourhood plan’s inclusion of closing Manning St for a mall, suggested this would be a low-hanging fruit. Some groups also identified the Milton Markets site on Cribb Street as another potentially under-utilised space, well-connected space. Most groups prefer one large park space which could serve multiple purposes, including as a central meeting spot, rather than several small parks.
1b. What is the priority for new park usage?
There was a clear consensus that Open-space / Picnic area is the top priority for new park usage. Residents mentioned that once open-space has been secured, things like ecology and playgrounds could be incorporated into the park. Residents love the idea of a town square or central meeting space. There was also some discussion of including a community garden, BBQ and CCTV within the park.
Residents had mixed views about active recreation. Some groups considered proximity to Frew Park and the River as evidence of adequate active recreation infrastructure, while regarded it as a high priority.
Overall ranking (by averaging scores across groups):
1. Openspace/Picnic
2. Playground
3. Active recreation
4. Dog Off Leash Area
5. Ecology
2. How should Council improve streetscapes?
Discussion prompts: Developments are the main cause of tree canopy loss in Brisbane. Currently deep-planting standards are performance-based (not required to approve a DA). DAs approved in Milton in last 3 months have average 2.36% deep-planting. Cr Sriranganathan (The Gabba Ward) proposed an amendment for min. 15% deep-planting required for all new developments, pending approval by State Government.
There was clear consensus that Milton needs more mature trees. Residents were concerned that mature trees were too easily removed by developers only to be replaced with saplings. They disagreed with the Council position to not plant street trees adjacent to current DAs and they would like new street trees to be low-maintenance. One group asked if there are mature tree nurseries in Council.
Interestingly, some groups raised queries about residents partnering with Council to green our public streetscapes. These residents believe that local organisations, businesses and residents would like to purchase and plant trees themselves, then hand them over to Council to maintain.
Residents strongly supported increasing deep-planting standards to at least a minimum of 15% site cover on new developments. They would also like to see increased setbacks, no more boundary-to-boundary podiums and explore building offsets to achieve deep-planting.
3. What should our overall strategy be?
Overall, residents are deeply frustrated that they do not have enough of a say in the future of Milton. The local planning instruments (e.g. City Plan; Milton Station and Milton Neighbourhood plans) are poorly adhered to and Development Applications that receive hundreds of high-quality objections still seem to get approved. Residents want to have a genuine voice on the future of this area and are deeply concerned about the Milton Riverside’s current trajectory. There is especially concern around the current State Facilitated Development, and how neighbouring developers will use this project to set precedent for building heights far above code.
Residents believe the Greening Milton campaign should be led by community and supported by local, state and federal offices. It was suggested that the Councillor might support through advocacy and financial support, the State Member can support by calling on amendments to the Planning Act and deep-planting as well as financial support, and the Federal member could support the campaign by assisting with grants applications.
Residents are mindful of the importance of building community first. This might look like hosting community dinners or breakfasts and exploring new ways to bring renters and residents in high-rises along on the campaign. Residents would like to use participatory and deliberative decision-making to inform the campaign.
Currently, the Milton Community Group (a.k.a ‘the troublemakers’!) is doing valuable work submitting objections to concerning DAs and lobbying State and Local Government decision-makers. While MCG, who are composed of residents from 12 Body Corporates in Milton, have been leading this awesome reactive campaigning, there now needs to be a transition to proactive campaigning to build more pressure on governments.
Overall Campaign Priorities:
1. Extending Milton Common
a. Purchasing more land at 7 Manning Street
b. Closing the end of Manning Street adjacent to park
2. Lobby State Government and Council to approve minimum deep-planting standards of 15%.
3. Campaign to give residents more power in decision-making.
Seal's response to the report:
I would like to thank you very much for joining us at the Greening Milton Community Forum!
I loved having this opportunity to hold a really comprehensive consultation on this and felt really inspired by residents’ passion to fight for a more vibrant Milton. My goal hosting this forum was to educate residents on the wider issues contributing to the current situation in Milton and to learn more about residents’ top priorities for this campaign.
As we discussed, the Milton riverside area is rapidly developing and it’s going to take some people-power to fight the systems that are leaving residents like yourselves feeling unheard and dismissed. Systemic changes like this do not happen overnight, but this greenspace campaign is a strong first step.
Prior to the event, my office took a couple of actions that we felt were most time sensitive for this campaign.
The first was to write to Councillor Adam Allan, Civic Cabinet Chair for City Planning and Suburban Renewal, to call for urgent investment in the future of Milton riverside. I highlighted the massive shortfall of greenspace in the area compared with Council’s own Desired Standards of Service and called for urgent action to purchase available land at 7 Manning St, Milton.
The second was to request that our Liaison from City Standards and a Council arborist walk through a section of Milton to map potential street trees. While Council claim they would not plant street trees in front of sites with pending Development Applications (sometimes for decades!) my office is pushing back on this. We have asked Council to map potential street trees along Crombie St, Cribb St and Railway Tce.
I am pleased that these actions coincidentally align with the outcomes from this community forum. After reviewing this report, my office will be strategising how we can increase the pressure on Council and the State Government to close Manning St and purchase new parkland.
As your local Councillor, I will commit to:
- Lobbying the State Government to ensure we get the 15% minimum Deep-Planting amendment to the City Plan approved and that they commit to this minimum in any State Facilitated Developments in the Milton high density riverside.
- Speaking in Chamber’s about the Greening Milton campaign and demanding action from the LNP-administration.
- Meeting with representatives from the Milton Community Group to strengthen our ongoing relationship and discuss potential proactive campaigning we can collaborate on.
- Strategising with my office on ways we can build people-power for this campaign and increase pressure on the Council administration and State Government
Thank you again for your passion and contribution to the Greening Milton campaign. I look forward to campaigning faithfully as your local Councillor.
Together, we can fight for a more vibrant, liveable Milton riverside.