A proposed retirement village by Gold Coast firm PGS Invest at Goodna, around 40km west of Brisbane, has caused concern at Council over destruction of koala habitat.
The 189-unit village, which is also proposed to contain an 81-bed aged care home with 15 disability accommodation units, would be built on 11.4 hectares – including five hectares of bushland containing essential habitat for koalas, squirrel gliders, powerful owls, grey-headed flying foxes, and other native fauna.
Ipswich City Council has requested more information on land clearing, flood prevention, and other aspects of the development. Precinct Urban Planning, which is assisting PSG with the project and submitted a report to Council, says it will be “an eco-sensitive development that will achieve a balance between community need and environmental values.
“In this regard, the applicant is committed to improving and rehabilitating the extent of vegetation that will be retained on the site as part of the overall development.
“It is noted that the Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning has recently approved the extent of vegetation clearing that can be undertaken on the site,” the firm said.
The development application was lodged last year, with the whole project planned to be built over seven stages.
