A 370-acre block of land in North Maclean is being turned into a large industrial area despite two decades of resistance from locals.
And they say it’s the flora and fauna that are paying the price.
The Flagstone Logistics Estate (formally known as the North Maclean Enterprise Precinct) is a proposed hyper-scale industrial estate “perfectly positioned” in the Greater Flagstone Priority Development Area.
But the Logan and Albert Conservation Association president, Anne Page, disagreed the estate is “perfectly positioned”, as its developer Charter Hall has claimed.
She said the development would serve as a massive disruption to the area’s rural essence, while also destroying its biodiversity – destruction locals are already seeing.
Ms Page said the block of land was home to kangaroos, wallabies, glossy black cockatoos, yellow belly gliders and even koalas, of which she has photographic evidence.
But recently she’s seen a lot of death, she said, with reports of a decapitated kangaroo next to the development.
“There was a dead spotted-tail quoll found on the corner of Green Hill Road and Crowson Lane, which is on the immediate northern boundary of where they are bulldozing and where they’ve cleared,” Ms Page said.
“There were two dead wallabies on Crowson Lane that were trapped between the temporary fencing.
“I have sleepless nights over this.”
But locals’ complaints reach beyond destroyed habitats and decapitated kangaroos.
“There are big clouds of dust going into the atmosphere and into surrounding homes because they’re not wetting the site down like they’re supposed to,” Ms Page said.
The trucks are also proving to be an issue, she said, with one even tipping over.
“I have reported at least at least six incidents to council of trucks parking in the streets,” she said.
“I’ve reported speeding trucks along Crowson Lane and there are huge, massive rocks the size of a casserole dish that have fallen off the trucks and onto the road.”
Ms Page said the community took their concerns to the state member for Logan, Linus Power.
“I recognise that locals have concerns over the development,” Mr Power said.
“I also recognise that planners say there is a need for job zones and there does need to be a balance between different interests.
“Many locals have to drive a long way in order to find work.
“I have always tried to take forward the concerns of locals about the area, especially concerns about native animals.”
Beaudesert Shire council withdrew their support for the industrial area in 2007 after two years of lobbying by Ms Page and the community, claiming there was “no need or justification for the North Maclean Enterprise Precinct, as the requirements for industrial land can be met in other developments across the Shire” for the “foreseeable future”.
But following the suburb’s amalgamation into Logan, Logan City council endorsed the development in 2008.
And with site works already in play, there is little those opposing the development can do to prevent it.
But Ms Page called on the community to remain engaged.
The project is predicted to be complete by late 2024.
