Page 14 - BOL Nov 22 Edition
P. 14
Mayor tells TMR to go back to
the drawing board in Griffin
Moreton Bay Council will oppose State “TMR has said they’re not currently botched this process by not gazetting this
Government plans to resume properties in investigating that option and they need to road corridor.
Griffin. explain why.
“I was reduced to tears just speaking to local
Mayor Peter Flannery and Deputy Mayor Jodie “The Deputy Mayor and I will be going out families so I can’t even begin to imagine how
Shipway were briefed by the Department to meet with impacted homeowners about they’re feeling right now,” she said.
of Transport and Main Roads on the Bruce all these issues, because we will need their
Highway expansion proposal today, after last support in advocating for a better outcome if “In some cases residents had only received the
week’s shock announcement broke in the we’re to succeed. keys to their homes hours before they received
media. the email, that is just unthinkable.
“I think everyone can agree that this process “It’s absolutely galling that residents were
was botched from the start and TMR needs to notified via email, after business hours, and
go back to the drawing board,” Mayor Flannery “ without any consultation.
said.
media literally one day before the State
“The fact that there has been no press release, It’s absolutely galling “Worse is the fact that the news broke via
no public consultation, and no news until TMR that residents were Government’s Housing Summit.
updated its website with new maps a couple of
days ago has created a cloud of secrecy around notified via email, “How does it make sense for the state
this process that TMR urgently needs to clarify. after business hours, government to announce they intend
and without any knocking down new homes, in the middle of
“Council absolutely supports expanding the a housing crisis?
Bruce Highway, but we cannot support the consultation.
way TMR has gone about this. “The announcement was shocking, the
timing is shocking, and I am choosing to
“I will be writing to Minister Mark Bailey asking believe that the Ministers weren’t aware of
him to intervene on his department’s plans and the Department’s actions because it defies all
come up with an alternative road alignment logic.
that doesn’t impact as many homes. “My concern isn’t just for Griffin, my concern
is for our entire region as we work to “Fortunately our local member is the Deputy
“I can only apologise to residents for the horrific accommodate booming population growth. Premier Steven Miles and I’m confident he will
situation they find themselves in because this be able to get the government to see sense.”
wasn’t a gazetted road corridor, which means “TMR urgently needs to progress its work on
there was no way for Council or the developer the gazettal of the Bruce Highway Western
to know this would occur almost as soon as Alternative so we all know the route that road
their homes were built. will take and can plan around it.
“My preferred road option here remains the “This will be a David and Goliath battle against
‘Moreton Connector’ which would not require a department like TMR, but I sincerely hope
the resumption of these brand new homes, common sense prevails.”
and would instead create a new road along
existing road reserve. Deputy Mayor Jodie Shipway agreed TMR had