Public Consultation Started – Paint Factory High-rise
Update – December 2023
I encourage you to have your say before the public notification period closes on 5 February, 2024. You can download a draft submission here.
Public consultation has commenced for the proposed re-development of the old paint factory site at 115 Hyde Rd, Yeronga. Now is the time to have your say about the future of this site before Council makes a final decision. Submissions close on 5 February, 2024 and can be made in writing or online.
In my view, it is appalling that the developer is undertaking the required public consultation over Christmas and the school holidays.
Following lodgement of the initial DA, Council issued a very detailed information request (preliminary assessment) outlining a number of issues the developer was required to address. This included very sensibly separating their proposal into two parts – the reuse of the paint factory site as an arts precinct from the new medium and high-rise residential plan. Disappointingly, the developer has ignored Council’s request to separate the DA into two parts and has only made minor changes to the development application.
The decision to allow high-rise development (eight storeys or possibly more in future) in Yeronga West would be a huge change and has not been considered as part of Council-led city-wide planning changes. As a result, infrastructure that would normally be needed to support densification does not exist in Yeronga West.
Some aspects of the proposal are innovative and welcome, such as reuse of some the existing buildings for arts purposes. Others are concerning, such as the significant number of future high-rise unit blocks and an estimated additional 2000 vehicles per day accessing the site. Finally, some are just plain inadequate, namely the lack of any new infrastructure.
That is why it is critical that residents speak up now about what sort of development, if any, you would support on the site.
If you want to save Yeronga West from high-rise development on the paint factory and other sites along Hyde Rd, now is the time to speak up.
You can view a copy of the developer’s response to the information request here.
You can view the DA materials on Council’s website here.
Update – October 2023
Brisbane City Council has issued a detailed information request seeking further information about the proposed redeveloped of 115 Hyde Rd, Yeronga , the old paint factory. This is good news as many of the issues of concern to our community have been recognised by Council as well as a number of technical issues. Significantly revised plans and reports covering traffic, building heights, design, landscaping, infrastructure, stormwater, flood management, housing affordability, noise, land use, air quality, hazard and risk and site contamination will need to be prepared and submitted to Council. All materials will be available for review on Council’s development.i website once lodged.
Council suggests that the application for a development permit, i.e. to reuse the facilities for a variety of uses, is split from the request to rezone the site as mixed use eight-storeys. This is a suggestion by Council and the developer can choose to respond to this submission and split the development application, or continue with the original proposal.
You can read the information request here.
The developer now has three months to respond to Council’s information request, although this can be extended by several months upon request to Council.
DA Lodged – August 2023
A development application has been lodged for a mixed-use redevelopment of the old paint factory site at 115 Hyde Rd, Yeronga. The site is currently zoned low-impact industry.
The developer-led proposal is being supported by the Lord Mayor’s new planning regime without any community consultation. Planning that introduces high-density apartments into a low-density neighbourhood will create massive changes to the amenity of Yeronga West.
There are two key components to the DA. Firstly, approval to reuse the existing buildings for a range of creative and performing arts, sport and recreational, retail, commercial, warehouse and industry uses. If this was all that was proposed it would be a welcome rehabilitation and reactivation of the paint factory site. Secondly, removal of the current zoning guidelines and establishment of a preliminary approval (blank masterplan) to enable future high-rise development on most of the site.
Of greatest concern is:
- A new 8-storey height limit over the vast majority of the site
- No new community infrastructure to support the development’s impact on Yeronga West
- No new stormwater drainage for the site or precinct
- No protection for the existing paint factory buildings (only the facade will be kept and the bricks reused)
- A non-binding masterplan that is akin to a blank cheque for future development
- Removal of the waterway corridor restrictions at the rear of the site to allow development
- Proximity to the sewerage plant
- Conflict with sport at the Olympic Football Club
- The lack of community notification and objection rights for future building proposals on the site
I urge residents to look beyond the glossy marketing images you may have seen. Residents should consider the long-term impact of high-rise development on local infrastructure in Yeronga West.
You can view the DA materials on Council’s website here.
You can make a submission at any time but the best time will be when the black and white notice sign is erected on the site. If you are concerned, I have drafted a submission you may like use or amend in your own words. You can download a copy of the draft submission here. I will keep you up to date as the development assessment progresses over coming months.