Speech to Chambers
Delivered by Councillor Seal Chong Wah, to the Debate on B petition - Requesting Council Reject the Development Application at 14 Yarawa Street, Kenmore, 18th November 2025
I rise to speak on this petition B, requesting council reject the development application at 14 Yarawa Street, Kenmore.
This is a bad development proposal.
This is not a good area for densification, and there are already big problems with traffic congestion, strain on sewage and stormwater infrastructure.
The destruction of so many mature trees, core koala habitat and land of high ecological significance would be a huge blow.
There are environmental overlays, including a Biodiversity area overlay of High Ecological Significance under the Brisbane City Plan and Matters of State Environmental Significance (MSES) by the State Government.
All of the new proposed lots in the subdivision have disregarded these overlays and propose to clear the area for 10 new blocks and a large balance lot, intended to be dedicated to the Queensland Government for a future road.
I believe there would need to be a bushfire corridor behind the development which would mean removing more trees and vegetation.
It is proposed that 174 non-juvenile koala habitat trees be removed to facilitate the development application.
We can do new development - but we don't need to bulldoze mature Koala habitats for it!