Residents dig in over home plan
MUNDINGBURRA residents are calling for a public meeting over plans to build government housing in the suburb, angry over a lack of community consultation.
The State Government is planning to build 37 homes in Townsville, on vacant lots next to the Mundingburra IGA on Ross River Rd as part of its $100 million Works for Tradies initiative.
Dozens of people living nearby quickly congregated as word of a meeting to discuss the project spread among neighbours yesterday morning. Standing together on the site of the proposed social housing development, they voiced their concerns to Herbert MP Phil Thompson, LNP candidate for Mundingburra Glenn Doyle and Councillor Maurie Soars, wanting to discuss the issue with Mundingburra MP Coralee O’ROurke.
Resident Shannon Pope said he was in regular contact with Ms O’ROurke’s office but wasn’t having his questions answered.
“It’s not suited for this area, we pay premium prices to live in Mundingburra, I’m not prepared to lose any value on my property,” he said.
“The public needs to be able to make a decision whether they want it or not.” Fiona Lake said there was a need for public housing for people who couldn’t afford the rental market, and said homes needed to be distributed around the city, citing high density as a health risk during the global pandemic.
“It’s been concentrated in select suburbs … we’re being treated like fools and it’s just been forced on us and how dare they?
“It’s just obnoxious, can you imagine this in Yarrawonga or Annandale? They’re (the Government) so sneaky.”
Greg Cuttriss said he was “disappointed but not surprised” at what he said had been a lack of information provided to the community.
“I think that’s their method of getting the project too far advanced before anyone can really stand up and fight about it,” he said.
“It will lower the value of surrounding properties and maybe the whole area.”
Ms O’rourke said a Townsville architect had been engaged to design the 18, two-storey homes in Mundingburra. “Having recently seen the designs, I can say that these will be some of the best looking homes on the street, with fences securing the properties from the main road,” she said. Ms O’rourke said she would keep the community informed of the works taking place.
Herbert MP Phil Thompson said he would publish the petition, which has hundreds of signatures, to stop the development from going ahead.
“Your job is to represent the people of Townsville and be their voice in Brisbane and that hasn’t happened,” he said.