MEMBERS of the community are reeling after Logan City Council last week approved Gassman Development Perspectives’ application for a master planned residential community at 348-434 and 436-474 Cusack Lane.
Residents like Scott Nicholls have been vocal in their opposition to the plan for high-density housing in an area comprised of rural-residential acreages.
“Our infrastructure is already at breaking point; how factors like traffic congestion and increased crime can just be overlooked with applications like these is beyond me,” he said.
Councillor Trevina Schwarz, who had voiced concerns over the proposal, which she believed would have a detrimental impact on the amenity and value of the area, was not present at the meeting where the application was voted on.
Neither was Cr Darren Power who is on leave, and mayor Luke Smith, who is currently in China on a trade mission with Cr Schwarz.
Chairperson of council’s planning and development committee Cr Russell Lutton left the meeting and did not participate in the vote as his daughter is an employee of the developer.
The vote was carried among the councillors who were left in the meeting, with Cr Phil Pidgeon recording his name against the development.
Cr Pidgeon said the whole process was being manipulated by developers to get away with average lot sizes of 300 square meters.
“The government has to start reigning in these applications where developers push for maximum lot yields in these emerging communities,” he said.
“We need to bring back some common sense and get to a minimum lot size of 500 square metres; people have nowhere to park their cars or store their council bins.”
Cr Lutton said the applicant sought to override the Logan City Planning Scheme for assessment of future development applications over the land, and applied for lots to be subdivided to a minimum size of 350 square metres.
“Council rejected this and set the minimum block size of 1000 square metres,” he said.
The Times contacted developer Brian Gassman who refused to comment.
