UPDATE: Public consultation closed on Monday 8th December.
The old Woolworths site on High St in Toowong has been sitting empty for years. After multiple cancelled developments, the new developer has finally applied with a new proposal for the site.
I’ve been banging the drum about this site for years, calling for development that benefits the whole community. While it’s been vacant, the owners have benefited from sitting on the property waiting for land values to rise.
It’s great to finally see some movement on the site, but we still have a chance to secure a better deal for the community while planning and consultation is underway.
Key elements of the proposal:
- The developer is proposing three towers of 40 to 55 levels, totalling 1000+ residential units.
- This is more than double the height limit in this area.
- I’m calling for approval over the existing height limit to be conditional on at least 25% of the new homes being designated as genuinely affordable housing.
- The developer is feeling the community pressure to deliver public green space, claiming that 40% of the site will be public open space and 102% of the site will be green space.
- In fact, over 80% of the “green space” they’re proposing is in private gardens for residents, vertical green walls and balcony planter boxes.
- Instead of providing genuine green space for the community, they’re proposing a concrete jungle.
- They’re also planning deep planting on just 6% of the site, instead of 10% as required.
- I’m calling for at least the minimum of 10% deep planting areas and real public green space.
Where it’s up to now
The developer’s proposal still needs to be approved by Brisbane City Council, which means there’s still time to apply pressure for a better deal for our community.
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