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OXLEY CREEK DRAFT MASTER PLAN RELEASED

Council's draft masterplan for Oxley Creek has been released for public consultation until 27 May 2018. Now is the time for our community to have its say.

To help residents understand the master planning process and to hear your ideas, I am hosting a community meeting and all are welcome to attend. 

When: Monday, 14 May from 7-8pm
Where:  St Matthews Anglican Church Hall, Sherwood

What's in the Plan

The Plan is part of Council's $100m 20-year project to transform and revitalise Oxley Creek. There are three main strategies underpinning the Plan:

• Environmental - long term environmental stewardship, fauna corridors, water quality and revegetation;
• Social and Community - heritage and indigenous education, improved access to and through the corridor, new leisure and recreation, corporate partnerships; and
• Economic - recreational revenue based activities; marketing strategies to increase tourism, education activities, industry partnerships.

Six projects have been suggested as priorities over the short-medium term. Of these, the first two are in or close to our local community while others have corridor wide impacts. They are:

1. The Greenway - 20km walking and cycling track from the Brisbane River at Graceville to Larapinta (no locations given on where the track will be);
2. Oxley Creek Common Bird Sanctuary, including birdwatching infrastructure, commercial activities and a visitor centre;
3. Strategic Corridor Restoration Plan - stormwater projects, revegetation, stabilisation of sand ponds upstream, habitat corridors;
4. Archerfield Wetlands Park and Oxley Creek Interpretative Centre;
5. Nature based Adventure Parkland at Larapinta;
6. Sustainable Economic Development Strategy - corridor wide

You can read the full Plan here.

What's missing?

The big problem exposed in the Draft Master Plan is the short comings in the delivery model to undertake the promised strategies and initiatives. For example, the taskforce has recommended consideration of a CityCat terminal, but this has already been ruled out, unilaterally, by the Lord Mayor. Dozens of initiatives in the Master Plan cannot be delivered by Oxley Creek Transformation Pty Ltd, the private company established by Council, because they have no jurisdiction to implement projects or they do not own or control the land upon which those initiatives are present.

So the big question is, is this a realistic Master Plan that is achievable? There are no detailed timeframes, no measurable objectives and no budget for delivery of the strategies and priority projects. Many of the solutions rely on planning and development changes which are not enforceable and are unlikely or are not located on land or under Council's control. Many of the priorities talk about "encouraging" outcomes not delivering them. Flood impacts are poorly defined and considered, especially in light of proposed future development in highly flood prone areas. The type of tenure and ownership model for new commercial/industrial or retail developments is unclear. The delivery model is also unclear as the project is being run by a private company (controlled by Council). 

My biggest concern is that this Draft Master Plan is full of good intentions that can never be realistically delivered. 

How to Have your Say

You can make a submission by COB 27 May in writing by email info@oxleycreek.com.au in writing to Oxley Creek Transformation, GPO Box 1434, Brisbane QLD 4001 or attend an information session in the community. 

How to Find out More

Talk to Nicole

I will be hosting a public meeting to discuss the plan and community issues and concerns. Please come along to the meeting on:

When: Monday, 14 May from 7-8pm
Where: St Matthews Anglican Church Hall, Sherwood

Council's Oxley Creek Information Kiosks

Corinda

When: Saturday, 12 May 2018 from 9-11am
Where: Coles Corinda

Sherwood

When: Saturday, 12 May 2018 from 9am-12 noon
Where: Sherwood State School Fete

Rocklea

When: Saturday, 19 May 2018 from 7-10am
Where: Brisbane Markets, Sherwood Rd Rocklea