Environment Court Action Yields Positive Outcome - at last!

A huge effort from the BIEPA team led by Angela Armitage, achieving a substantial result on behalf of all the appellants, and the wider community

For three years, BIEPA has invested attention and resources into mitigating the worst impacts of the development proposed at 99 First Avenue, Woorim.

This important matter is now resolved, and members of BIEPA and the public whom we represent can be heartened at the outcome.

BIEPA has asserted all along that such a development was inappropriate for the location and the zoning of the land, and indeed threatened the ecology of the land and the surrounding area.  Despite the Council approving the development, our continued opposition to the development was justified by the developer electing to reduce the development footprint, resulting in the retention of more established trees and vegetation, and ultimately making some significant concessions in relation to more onerous conditions of approval, amongst other things.

On the evening before the commencement of the hearing, BIEPA’s solicitors were approached about a potential resolution and an agreement was ultimately struck in a way that we think is satisfactory to BIEPA and the Bribie community.  It also avoided additional costs and risk associated with the Court hearing.

So on 19th February when we represented BIEPA at the Planning & Environment Court for the first time in 28 years, the Court was advised by the parties’ representatives that the hearing dates were no longer required and that the parties had reached a negotiated outcome. 

The specific measures imposed on the developer and other aspects of the resolution will be explained at a Special General Meeting for members to be announced.

Our mission is to put Bribie’s nature first. We were obliged to take up this fight, and without us, this outcome would never have been achieved. This David and Goliath struggle has highlighted the importance of community holding decision-makers to the planning scheme. BIEPA was congratulated by the trial Judge for achieving a successful outcome on behalf of the Bribie community.  This includes all Queenslanders who value best-practice in environmental custodianship. We can hold our heads up as a result of all the hard work and community contribution of funds which we have directed to this vital action.