Redland City Council today refused an application to extend the currency period of a development approval to extend a quarry at Mount Cotton.
Today’s application follows the Development Permit being granted by the State Government on December 20, 2013 after being called-in by the then Planning Minister.
The permit was for Material Change of Use for Extractive Industry and Environmentally Relevant Activities 8 (Chemical Storage), 16 (Extractive and Screening) and 21 (Motor Vehicle Workshop Operation) at 1513 and 1515-1521 Mount Cotton Road, Mount Cotton, and 163-177 and 196 Gramzow Road, Mount Cotton.
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In acknowledgement of the site being a Key Resource Area, Council also resolved for the Mayor to write to the State Government, requesting decisions about Key Resource Areas (KRAs) be made by the relevant State Department rather than Council.
Redland City Mayor Karen Williams said Council’s refusal of the application was in line with community expectation.
“The quarry extension has been a hot topic in the Redlands for many years and by refusing the application today Council has clearly demonstrated we are standing up for the community,” she said.
“Key Resource Areas are declared by the State Government to protect these critical resources of State significance to support the State’s economic growth. But then under State planning processes it is up to Council to make decisions about development in KRAs, which puts us in a difficult position.
“Following today’s decision I will write to the State and request that if they declare an area of the city a KRA they should also decide what projects are approved within these areas.”
Division 6 Councillor Julie Talty, who moved the motion to refuse the application, said “the Mount Cotton community had grown considerably in the four years since the approval was granted, many people would be unaware that such a significant development was pending, and they will wish to be informed and have an opportunity to be consulted”.
“There have been more than 442 new homes built in the area since the State granted approval more than four years ago,” Cr Talty said.
“This equates to a significant number of people who do not know about this approval.
“This is a win for the local community and provides the opportunity for a fresh application to be lodged so new residents in the area can have their say about the proposal.
“As a local resident and the local Councillor I have heard the concerns of residents and I hope the applicant now takes the opportunity to submit an entirely new application that allows the community to have their say.
“The quarry does provide economic and employment opportunities, but there needs to be a balance that provides these opportunities while at the same time protecting all that we love about Mount Cotton and the Redlands”.
The currency period of the development approval would have lapsed on December 20, 2017 had the extension application not been lodged with Council before that date.
However, the lapsing of the currency period was stayed until Council made a decision on the extension application, which sought an extension to the currency period of an additional three years.
