Media Release: Scrapping Amendment Good for Local Sporting Facilities

Greenslopes MP, Joe Kelly has welcomed the decision by the Brisbane City Council to scrap elements of its proposed Aged Care Amendment which would have allowed aged care facilities to be built on privately owned sport and recreation zoned land.

“Scrapping this amendment means local residents will be properly consulted about any changes to land currently being used for recreational purposes.” Mr Kelly said.

“This means the community will get a say in what happens to recreational facilities like the Coorparoo Bowls Club.”

Mr Kelly said many local residents had raised concerns directly with him about the impact of this proposed amendment on facilities like the Coorparoo Bowls Club. Site owner Bowls Queensland is currently exploring options to redevelop the site as a retirement living facility.

Brisbane City Council had proposed an amendment to the Brisbane City Plan 2014 that would allow these developments to proceed without the community consultation of an impact assessable development.

The State Government had recently given approval for the Brisbane City Council to consult with the community about the proposed amendment over an extended 60 business day period. The Minister also conditioned that council provide detailed maps of the affected land and ensure that future developments did not compromise sport and recreation facilities.

Joe Kelly with members of the Coorparoo Bowls Club and the Chairperson of the club, Matt Campbell.

“I raised concern with Cameron Dick, Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning, that a number of residents in my community did not want to see their sport and recreational land removed. Green space in the inner city is already limited and further development would see even less space.”

As a Registered Nurse who has worked in Aged Care, Mr Kelly said he is very supportive of the need for retirement living and aged care facilities, however, in an electorate like Greenslopes, recreational land is very limited and recreational facilities should not be sacrificed.

“There are plenty of other options for developers to build retirement living and aged care facilities and we have seen two new retirement living facilities and an aged care facility built in the last few years without sacrificing local sporting facilities,” he said.

Mr Kelly said he is supportive of Bowls Queensland’s efforts to redevelop the site but said this should not be done in a manner that results in the loss of a community recreation facility.

“Bowls Queensland need to re-develop this site, because in its current form the facility is not financially viable and I can see why they want to solve that problem,” he said.

“However, I’ve always said Bowls Queensland should consult widely with the community and come up with a solution that maintains community access to this fantastic sporting facility.

“Bowls Queensland can still apply under existing rules to re-develop the site for aged care purposes, but this will be done now with proper community consultation and I know my community will object strongly to any proposal that results in the loss of community access to this sporting facility.

“Ultimately this is a win for our community and I will always fight to protect our local sporting facilities.” he said.