2015-11-04
The Queensland Greens say State and Local Governments are continuing to alienate communities when it comes to planning and development decisions.
“People across the state are upset that they keep getting shut out of the consultation process simply because governments are playing to the interests of big lobby groups” Greens spokesperson Kirsten Lovejoy said.
“Last month the State Government closed the window on feedback into its draft Planning Bills, giving people only six weeks to sift through over a thousand pages of draft legislation and supporting material”.
“There are some serious gaps in the draft Bills but it’s hard for people to give a well informed response when the rush is on by Government to get the process finished before the end of the year”
The sense of being ignored has been felt deeply in some local government areas, with Brisbane City Council’s development push causing major friction in many of its electorates.
“Community action groups are hard at it all over Brisbane to try and get council to take on board peoples concerns, but Council doesn’t seem to be listening.”
Ms Lovejoy praised the work of umbrella organisation Brisbane Residents United, which is bringing together community and advocacy groups on Sunday 15 November to send a strong message to both levels of government that people and sustainability need to come first.
“People want good development happening in their neighbourhoods. They are tired of having what they value eroded by a developer-fuelled quick fix”.
Ms Lovejoy said the Greens share communities’ deep concern about the development-at-any-cost approach that has come to dominate Queensland politics, and recently adopted a new planning and development policy that puts people, sustainability and genuine consultation very clearly at its core.
“As the only party to reject developer donations, the Greens will always put community interests above powerful lobby groups”.
The family friendly event being organised by Brisbane Residents United on Sunday 15 November will commence at 10:00am in Brisbane City’s King George Square.
Contact Kirsten Lovejoy - Candidate for Brisbane Central for more on 0427 589 035