Wednesday 27 January 2010

This House VI - Unobstructed View!

'View from my back deck'

When we bought this house in 1994 we were advised by the local Councillor that, while there were 3 or 4 apartment blocks within the immediate area, these were planning abberations and this could never happen again. The new more enlightened planning guidelines would prevent a repetition of this.

I quite like this view. It's nicely framed and gives a sense of perspective to the view and the neighbourhood. (that's the neighbours roof in the foreground - look familiar?)

Unfortunately the local council has just released new 'Draft Planning Guidelines' which propose buildings of between 12 and 30 stories for this 'community on a peninsular'. True, my immediate neighbourhood is listed as protected so it's unlikely one of these monsters will appear next door.
Sadly, the lovely Kurilpa Peninsular community of about 3000 is facing an increase in population of 25,000 over the next 15 years. How Planners imagine that there is a snowflakes chance in hell that this community can retain its character and identity and charm in the face of an onslaught of that size beggars belief.

2 comments:

Vera said...

What a shame that your area is going to become so submerged in humanity - this must be quite worrying for you. Here there is no likelihood of this happening - if the local commune did decide to build a huge block of flats there wouldn't be anyone to put in them anyway, the population being quite small as it is. However: the influx of the English, (yes, and I know I am English as well!) has hyped up the price of properties here, which means the local children of the local parents can't afford to stay in the locality when it is time for them to find work. So they leave. Which means the way of life here is also dying - most of the population is older rather than younger. So, in our way also, things are changing.
But hopefully not just yet. The same for you. Perhaps these changes will take a while to manifest themselves, or perhaps the local people will band together to fight their corner. Either way, I hope that your fears for your area are not founded.

therese collie said...

Hi Steve,
Therese Collie here. I don't know how else to contact you... I might have mentioned before you left that I am co-ordinating 30 mins conversations for West End Live! as part of the Brisbane Festival. I have arranged with Avid Reader to hold one at 11.30am on 19th September with ex-Street Arts members cf. Katrina, Ainsley, Mark Shortis. I would like you to be part of this group too and maybe you can give away/accept a donation for some of the Challenging the Centre books. What do you think? Can you email me your response? I need to have the blurb for the program finalised before you get back which is why I am chasing you now. Looks like you are having a fabuloso time. Love to Ange, TC xx