COMMUNITY concerns about the plan by developer Mirvac to drain and fill the agricultural dam at the corner of Greenbank and Teviot Roads, Greenbank have been widespread since the Times published an article about a resident’s fears over risks to wildlife.
One of the main points raised by readers was about the timing of the dam’s drainage, which Mirvac indicated would be before the establishment of an alternative site on the developer’s land to house fauna from the body of water.
Councillor Trevina Schwarz led the call for Mirvac to consider keeping the dam as part of a park.
Mirvac Queensland Residential general manager Warwick Bible said the company had listened to concerns raised about the dam during the consultation process for its Greenbank community.
Specialist consultants were engaged to investigate the issue and, after careful consideration, maintained retention of the agricultural dam was not the long-term outcome.
"Instead, we are establishing a two-hectare wetland area, which will be open to the whole community and connected to a planned 85 hectares of conservation parkland and a 25-hectare regional sports and recreation park," he said.
"We take all feedback very seriously and we are in consultation with a number of environmental specialists to manage the task appropriately.
"Mirvac will manage the 'changeover' between the decommissioning of the dam and the creation of the new wetland corridor with a fauna management plan, created with the help of specialist environmental consultants, and engage state government accredited fauna spotters and catchers to relocate wildlife to suitable release sites during this period."
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Release sites
Mr Bible said although the agricultural dam de-watering fauna management plan was yet to be finalised, a number of local release site opportunities had been identified.
The actual release sites would be determined by an accredited fauna catcher/spotter prior to the relocation of wildlife.
Mr Bible said that because the new community at Greenbank was in its early stages, exact time-frames for development staging and sequencing were yet to be determined, but it was likely that the agricultural dam would be decommissioned within 12 months.
He confirmed a second dam onsite would also be decommissioned at the appropriate time, and was situated in a future stage of the community, which would be rolled out over a 16-year period.
"Although the agricultural dams will be decommissioned, the new two hectare wetland area will be appropriately designed and constructed to provide enduring habitat for native wildlife, aesthetic amenity, passive recreation and educational opportunities while also serving a stormwater management function," Mr Bible said.
"This new wetland will be integrated within a new 25 hectare regional sports and recreation park, forming part of the 25 per cent of the site dedicated to conservation and open space outcomes."