Why development in Queensland is a great thing: a property consultant's take

The debate around 'bad development' in Brisbane just got a new counterpoint. 

#yimbyqld – Yes, in my back yard Queensland – has been created to highlight the many benefits that good, innovative and well-planned developments bring to modern cities.

Brisbane property consultancy Wolter Consulting Group is spearheading the initiative, to bring back some balance to the development debate, after concerns that “good development” was being unfairly tarnished.

Wolter's director and planning manager, Natalie Rayment, said Brisbane had a track record of outstanding developments from successive Brisbane City Council administrations, including the Gasworks precinct at Newstead, the Urban renewal precinct at New Farm and Teneriffe and Waterline at Bulimba.

“Development is anything but adhoc. It is driven by the City Plan, a document prepared in conjunction with the people of Brisbane,” Rayment said.

“Residents were given double the usual period of time to comment on the City Plan to ensure the best outcome was achieved. The City Plan sets the direction of development in Brisbane for the next decade.

“It is misinformed to say that developers get to do what they like unchecked. The fact of the matter is there is an extremely rigorous system in place that takes into account every aspect of development as well as future planning."

She added that Brisbane City Council is one of the toughest to deal with for development, with anywhere from three to 12 months needed for an approval. Even a basic code assessable application involves detailed assessment against multiple land use, development and constraint codes examining anything from land use to landscaping, design to acoustics, traffic to engineering and much much more.

The debate around development -- always a political topic -- has gathered steam ahead of the Council elections on March 19.

The “yimby” concept has its origins from New York City as an initiative to discuss, document and promote good development against the negative “nimby” (not in my back yard) viewpoint often encountered by developers in big cities.

Rayment said we had not only come to enjoy but expect the benefits of good development, including exciting lifestyle precincts with vibrant public spaces.

“Residents want good interactive public spaces, public artworks, green spaces, environmental excellence, contemporary and innovative design and the housing options and jobs they create,” Rayment said.

“Unfortunately new developments are quite often faced with negativity and the ‘not in my back yard’ brigade. We want to create #yimbyqld to get factual information out there on cutting edge, good developments to encourage debate with an open mind.”

Rayment said recent and proposed developments including the Howard Smith Wharves, Queen’s Wharf, South City Square at Woolloongabba and West Village in West End were examples of good development the people of Brisbane could be excited by.

“Let’s not forget the places we live and play in have been produced by good development,” she said.

“There are many benefits that have flowed from that – including cycle ways, parks, footpath dining and even the recent focus on vibrant laneways and roof-top spaces.

“Our aim is to generate balance in the development debate and start an intelligent, grown-up discussion on what makes a good development,” she concluded.