DOZENS of mature gums have been felled at a greenfield site at the corner of Johanna Street and the Mount Lindesay Highway at Jimboomba.
This morning, October 31, about a dozen trees were on the ground in three piles which could be seen from the school service road which fronts the highway. More could be seen from the Johanna Street side of the property.
Cr Trevina Schwarz said an officer went to the site to investigate yesterday after the council received complaints but found all was in order and the owner was operating with approvals.
She said the owner was cleaning up the property. This included the demolition of an old brick house. Work this week included the removal of diseased trees.
The 16.7 hectare site north of the school was sold to Stocklands by Larry Klinge in 2004. Part owner Zagame Group bought out Stocklands share in 2015.
The site has approval for the construction of a 21,566 square metre shopping centre.
Zagame and Pellicano are in the middle of a $14 million redevelopment of the existing Jimboomba Shopping Centre, with a further $3 million to be spent on a Woolworths makeover.
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Cr Schwarz said the shopping centre makeover was needed but she doubted more shops would be on the way soon.
“I don’t think we’re going to see Big W and a cinema complex moving on to that property any time soon,” she said. “The owners say they are conducting a simple clean-up of the site.”
Cr Schwarz said a court hearing would be needed to change historic approvals at the site.
In other news, a Carbrook land owner who illegally cleared more than 100 native trees from an acreage block has been granted a retrospective development approval.
Logan City Council said it was still considering whether to fine owner James Xerri.
It will require Mr Xerri to replant and rehabilitate disturbed areas, including 693 new plants, within three months from October 11.