DHA proposal

DEFENCE Housing Australia (DHA) with its second attempt to turn part of the old rifle range site in Toowoomba into a housing development, has taken a very “back door” approach.

Having abandoned the first 344 lot application in the face of community opposition, DHA’s second application is for a 50 lot subdivision and is soon to be decided by the council.

However, unlike the first application there has been no opportunity for community input.

The old rifle range is zoned government facilities which does not contemplate a residential development of the scale of 50 lots.

It is true that the zoning is now inappropriate since the ending of the rifle range use.

Zoning of a land in a planning scheme identifies the preferred uses of that land. If the use is not one identified in the zone, then the usual path of a developer would be to apply for a material change of use which would allow public input. DHA have avoided public input by choosing a loophole in the planning scheme for lot reconfigurations.

It is very appropriate that the people of Toowoomba have a chance to express their views about such a valuable asset.

There are other question marks over this development, the mapping describes this application as “stage one”. Is this the thin edge of the wedge which if permitted will be followed by stages two, three, four … and DHA will be back near the position they were with the abandoned 344 lot application?

If this “stage one” is allowed, what happens to the balance of the area which included the koala habit and areas of high environmental value?

DHA says it will remain protected and available for the council to manage. The problem with that is that if the council permits this subdivision, the balance will remain in DHA ownership, zoned community facilities and be available for subsequent applications.

If DHA, a Federal Government organisation, respected the views of the Toowoomba community, it would have made an application for the entire site subject to public input, and changing the zoning of the balance area to open space.

The council has many reasons to reject this application such as: bushfire hazard, drainage, traffic issues, as well as the lack of public input and some finality about the preservation of the balance area.

The council should reject this application and DHA should show its respect for the Toowoomba community and ensure the ecological values of the land are formally recognised. MARK TRANTER, Rangeville