Blue Care development approved under strict conditions: Fraser

November 28 2006

Blue Care development approved under strict conditions: Fraser

Local Government and Planning Minister Andrew Fraser today approved Blue Care’s proposed integrated aged care facility and community health service development at StaffordHeights in Brisbane’s northern suburbs.

The Brisbane City Council had previously refused the application.

However, the State Government ‘called-in’ the application for re-assessment in April because of its potential to deliver much-needed aged care facilities for the local community.

The development proposal includes an aged care facility, medical centre and child care facility on former Housing Department land at Rode Road, StaffordHeights.

Mr Fraser said the development had now been approved subject to strict conditions.

“The application was called-in due to the benefits of the development to the community in providing vital aged-care facilities,” Mr Fraser said.

“The Local Government and Planning Department appointed an independent planning consultant to prepare a report assessing the merits of the application and traffic impacts.

“A team of specialist consultants was also engaged to examine matters including biodiversity, social impacts and the need for aged care facilities.”

The assessment concluded that despite conflict with some of the relevant City Plan provisions, there were sufficient grounds to approve the application, as overriding need for the proposed development was established.

Under conditions attached to the development, the local environmental quality of the site will be protected.

Mr Fraser said the conditions imposed on the development would minimise the environmental impact on the site.

The conditions require:

• A reduction in the percentage of the site covered by buildings

• A reduction in scale and reduction in height

• Protection of a waterway corridor and intact area of bushland north of the corridor, providing buffers and a provision for a vegetation offset area equivalent to about 15 per cent of the site

• Restoration and rehabilitation of the waterway corridor and improvements to the in-stream habitat by grass and weed removal, treatment of stormwater and replanting of appropriate native species.

Under the Integrated Planning Act, the Local Government and Planning Minister can exercise call-in powers to re-assess development applications that have been approved or refused by local governments.

In each case the Minister’s decision is final and not able to be appealed.

Media Contact: Chris Taylor 3227 8825 or 0419 710 874