Moreton Bay Council will oppose Queensland Government plans to resume properties in Griffin to make way for the Bruce Highway expansion, following a shock announcement made by the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) on 17 October.
Residents in Griffin were dismayed by the announcement, learning via email and phone that their homes, some newly built, would be resumed for the widening of the Bruce Highway, with the ABC reporting that some residents were contacted by the TMR mere hours after receiving the keys to their new properties.
A TMR spokesperson, speaking to the ABC on 19 October, said that the owners of 24 residential lots on Venture Drive – which runs along the Bruce Highway – were contacted about the plans, with many only having lived at the properties for less than a year.
Moreton Bay Council Mayor, Peter Flannery, and Deputy Mayor, Jodie Shipway, were briefed by the TMR on the Bruce Highway expansion proposal, with Mayor Flannery calling the process “botched” and saying the “TMR needs to go back to the drawing board”.
“The fact that there has been no press release, no public consultation, and no news until TMR updated its website with new maps a couple of days ago has created a cloud of secrecy around this process that TMR urgently needs to clarify.
“Council absolutely supports expanding the Bruce Highway, but we cannot support the way TMR has gone about this.”
Mayor Flannery said he would be writing to Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Mark Bailey, asking him to intervene on his department’s plans and come up with an alternative road alignment that impacts less homes.
“I can only apologise to residents for the horrific situation they find themselves in because this wasn’t a gazetted road corridor, which means there was no way for Council or the developer to know this would occur almost as soon as their homes were built,” Mayor Falnnery said.
“My preferred road option here remains the ‘Moreton Connector’ which would not require the resumption of these brand new homes, and would instead create a new road along existing road reserve.
“TMR has said they’re not currently investigating that option and they need to explain why.”
Mayor Flannery said he and Cr Shipway would be going to meet with impacted homeowners about the issues and ask for their support in advocating for a better outcome.
“My concern isn’t just for Griffin, my concern is for our entire region as we work to accommodate booming population growth,” Mayor Flannery said.
“TMR urgently needs to progress its work on the gazettal of the Bruce Highway Western Alternative so we all know the route that road will take and can plan around it.
“This will be a David and Goliath battle against a department like TMR, but I sincerely hope common sense prevails.”
Cr Shipway agreed TMR had botched the process by not gazetting this road corridor.
“I was reduced to tears just speaking to local families so I can’t even begin to imagine how they’re feeling right now,” Cr Shipway said.
“In some cases residents had only received the keys to their homes hours before they received the email, that is just unthinkable.
“It’s absolutely galling that residents were notified via email, after business hours, and without any consultation.
“Worse is the fact that the news broke via media literally one day before the State Government’s Housing Summit.
“How does it make sense for the State Government to announce they intend on knocking down new homes, in the middle of a housing crisis?
“The announcement was shocking, the timing is shocking, and I am choosing to believe that the Ministers weren’t aware of the department’s actions because it defies all logic.”
Featured image: Department of Transport and Main Roads, Queensland. Image: Moreton Bay Council
