Milton Dick (Oxley, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to condemn the decision announced yesterday that will see a new high-rise apartment complex built on The Esplanade in Forest Lake. Two thousand locals spoke out and signed a petition to oppose this development. Three hundred submissions were lodged by residents about the impact of this development on the lifestyle and amenity of those living on the lake.

I congratulate the Forest Lake Action Group, the local businesses and the many volunteers who, led by our local councillor Charles Strunk, stood up to the Brisbane City Council. Over the last 16 years, the LNP-dominated council have used their massive majority to ignore residents. This shoddy, arrogant process of ignoring residents must end. The high-rise will have a major impact on our local environment, increase parking problems around the lake and overshadow what has always been a scenic community meeting place. I stress that this is a high-rise development in a low-density area. Our community has been utterly betrayed by the LNP Brisbane City Council, who are putting developers' profits before the needs of residents.

I live nearby the lake. My office is at Forest Lake. I stand with residents and will fight tooth and nail to make sure we do not see any more inappropriate developments for our community. The fight is not over. Our community must send the Brisbane City Council a strong message: no more high-rise for Forest Lake.