THE State Government is expected to drastically reduce the number of trees it was to cut down to build social housing in Birkdale after a strong campaign by residents.
More than 100 people attended a community meeting in Birkdale at the weekend to protest against "over-development" of a community housing site.
The meeting has resulted in consultation between the council, the state government and residents, with modified plans that reduce the footprint of the designs set to be presented to residents last night.
The block of land at 2-6 Mary Street, Birkdale, has original bushland running along its rear boundary, which the residents want to see preserved as part of any development. It forms a key koala corridor and wildlife refuge as well as collection point for rainwater.
Mary Street residents Margaret Hardy and Neil Hickson have joined with the Birkdale Progress Association to spearhead the 'Save Mary Street' campaign.
They are calling for the State to adhere to Redland City Council's development codes for the area, which the State currently does not have to do.
"We have no problem with the social housing. Who of us knows when we might need it one day?" Mr Hickson said.
"But it needs to be done properly, with consideration for the traffic overcrowding we already see on this little road with a school and two childcare centres, and the environmental values all of the residents love about living here."
Plans for the community housing seen by the residents propose only 12 carparks for 20 units, with the development to extend right up to the boundary and clear all bushland.
If the plans complied with council regulations, car parks would need to be increased to 25 and the 'footprint' reduced to adhere to a 'habitat overlay' for the site.
Redland City Councillor for Birkdale Helen Murray said she had been told a tender had already been awarded for construction on the site, and that negotiations were being fast-tracked to accommodate this.
The project is being funded with Federal Government stimulus package money for 'shovel ready' projects, which was criticised by Federal MP Andrew Laming at the weekend meeting.
"The stimulus money was important and had to be spent quickly, but now with the recession in the rear vision mirror, we need to be reassessing just how fast we spend that money," he said.
"We do have time now to do it right, to not make mistakes with public housing that we will regret for generations."
Representat ives of the Save Mary Street campaign were to meet with State Government planning officials last night, after being invited by Capalaba MP Michael Choi at the weekend public meeting.
At the time of going to print, the State Government's amendments to the plans had not been confirmed.
Concerned residents can find out more and sign the petition by printing it from www.save maryst.com and mailing it to organisers, who will also have hard copies of the petition to sign at Birkdale State School from about 2pm on school days.
Email a friend