New Report from Dr Neil Peach - “A Further Assessment of Victoria Park’s DEMISE and What Little Might Remain?”
NEW REPORT BY DR NEIL PEACH: 66% of Victoria Park to be lost + 1,200 trees bulldozed.
Last week, Sustainable Development researcher, Dr Neil Peach, released a new detailed report exposing the latest catastrophic impacts of the proposed Olympic stadiums on Victoria Park. His latest analysis finds that 39 of the park’s 59 hectares - 66% - will be consumed by Olympic infrastructure. That’s FIVE TIMES more than what was originally claimed (12-13%).
Dr Peach has also calculated that over 1,200 mature or ancient trees would be destroyed. Significant species’ habitats obliterated. State Heritage–listed land bulldozed. And one of Brisbane’s most culturally significant First Nations sites treated like it’s disposable, as if history, culture and Country can be paved over without consequence.
This report also raises serious legal questions:
The State Government's new legislation does not override the Land Act nor does it override the NALL [Natural Asset Local Laws]
The Brisbane City Council (BCC), as Trustee [owner] of the park under the Land Act continues to have its trustee responsibilities and is also responsible for the application of the NALL. The BCC's Master Plan for Victoria Park is still in place and this was approved as the Land Management Plan for the park.
There are limits on the amount of secondary uses allowed in a DOGIT
Who is going to manage the wildlife living in these trees to be bulldozed - will they be euthanised?
We are talking about 250–700 year old ironbarks. A sacred bunyip waterhole. And species like the Squirrel Glider whose survival depends on this park's connected habitat.
So the question stands: How can anyone justify this?
Why the Increase in Destruction from 58% to 66%?
This new report by Dr Neil Peach builds on his previous report titled “Victoria Park A Preliminary Analysis of Previous Brisbane Olympic Venue Reviews.” This latest report takes into account -
Additional information about the nature of the construction proposed for the National Aquatic Centre [NAC]. There is still no published justification or analysis for locating the NAC where it will destroy a significant amount of two State Heritage listed properties - namely Centenary Pool and Victoria Park. However, Dr Peach has taken on board the graphics presented in various publications indicating that the NAC will be limited to the area east of and including the Centenary Pool. This means that Dr Peach has reduced his assessment of the footprint needed by the NAC. Of course there is a grave risk that these graphics may be very misleading [like many others produced by those seeking to gain design commissions for the new venues.]
A more detailed breakdown of the land titles comprising Victoria Park. Dr Peach has reviewed the land areas associated with the nine [9] land titles that comprise the ‘body’ of Victoria Park - Victoria Park according to land title records is less than 60ha [and not 64ha]
A breakdown of the total requirements so that it is clearer what areas are impacted on the North and South sections of the Park
The significant variation in land elevations that will require massive earthworks and levelling that will exacerbate greatly the damage to extant parklands, habitat and necessitate the removal of thousands of trees
These adjustments result in -
A revision down in the likely requirement for the NAC to 7.5 ha
An adjusted area of 59 ha for the total of the land titles impacted by this development
Dr Peach estimates the Olympic requirement to be approx. 31.5 ha for the North section and 7.5 ha for the South section
This gives a total Olympic requirement of 39 ha from the combined park total area of 59ha
Overall the Olympic requirements will reduce the existing parkland by 66 %
