The scale of development planned for the West End and South Brisbane is causing a rift in Brisbane with councilors launching scathing attacks on each other.
City planners are trying to “force an extra 25,000 people” onto the south Brisbane Peninsula over the next 20 years, councilor Helen Abrahams told the Brisbane Times.
“[Councilor Cambell Newman] also wants to being 55,000 more businesses into an area that currently only has 18,000,” Abrahams said.
However, city planners say her figures are misplaced with the 25,000 number being forward planning for future infrastructure growth, such as water capacity.
“It is common practice to include substantial new capacity for infrastructure as part of major projects as a contingency for future growth," city planning manager, Kerry Doss, said in a letter to West End Community Association (WECA).
"That is not to say an additional 25,000 people will move into the area. The ultimate population is governed by the Neighbourhood Planning process as yet to be determined," Doss said.
But Newman has labeled Abrahams’ outcry “a disgrace”, saying that she voted for increased density in Fortitude Valley, South Brisbane, Kurilpa, West End and South Brisbane at a full council meeting in May 2008.
Abrahams said she was in favour of increased density, but only when the community agreed.
"We supported higher density with a working process where the residents are involved in the process where they agree where the higher density should be," Abrahams said.
