Debate Speech to full BCC Chambers meeting on 20th August, 2024, by Councillor Seal Chong Wah.
Thank you Chair, I rise to move that item clause D to be taken in seriatim for voting. I would like to speak to the sale of the property, at 21 Sylvan Road, in clause D, under the Surplus Property Disposal. Our communities across our city are missing out on vital maintenance and infrastructure like footpaths, parks, libraries, bike lanes, foot bridges, recreational facilities, pedestrian crossings and much more. We know that Developers are now hardly contributing any infrastructure fees due to this LNP administration. However, infrastructure charges are now far too low to cover the true costs of the infrastructure that’s required to support new development. Selling off these lots looks like a firesale, to desperately find some more income rather than a genuine attempt to support the development of more housing.
It’s clear that this LNP administration has mismanaged the budget and this is another example, selling this land parcel asset off to presumably a developer who will make millions of dollars in profit due to the current zoning. The huge issue here is that this parcel of land (a 450 square metre block) is zoned for high density residential (up to 15 storeys) under the City Plan, yet is in a high risk flood zone 2a area. Approving a development on sites like this that are highly vulnerable to river flooding ultimately leads to more challenges and higher costs for governments and future residents. Therefore, this doesn’t make sound economic sense! Most of Brisbane's land area is located on higher ground, well above creek and river flood levels, but due to pressure from private developers, this LNP administration is still approving new residential and commercial developments on land that is severely flood-affected. Developers take their profits and run, leaving residents and body corporates to deal with rising insurance bills and major disruption every time there’s a flood.
21 Sylvan Road is a great opportunity for a pocket park, creating a space for our residents to sit and relax.
In our growing city, it’s important to make the most out of every parcel of land, especially in flood prone areas. These pocket parks can look like their larger counterparts; with benches, plants, and shade for residents to relax. Having more open and accessible public green spaces for residents plays an essential role in building community, supporting physical and mental health and wellbeing. Our urban areas are getting hotter due to the urban heat island effect and global warming, and we know one of the ways we can mitigate against that is through planting more trees that have a cooling effect plus drawing down carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Pocket parks can provide additional space to expand the canopy cover for our growing city. They can help reduce air pollution and provide a habitat for local wildlife and a natural respite that benefits our ecosystem.
For these reasons, we, as a council, should be taking every opportunity to protect and create precious green public spaces large or small, investing in more tree canopy, creating a vibrant community asset, and valuing them in terms of their wellbeing benefits to our community.
We need to value, protect and create public greenspace and ban development on flood prone land. Therefore, I object to the surplus disposal of 21 Sylvan Road based on all these valid reasons I have provided.