Brisbane Parklands handover a step closer

The handover of South Bank and Roma Street Parklands to the Brisbane City Council (BCC) is a step closer, with the signing of a 'Principles Statement' by Queensland Premier Campbell Newman and Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk.

A 10-year lease agreement to transfer responsibility for Brisbane's South Bank and Roma Street Parklands to the Council is now set to be finalised in early 2013.

Premier Newman said the Principles Statement fulfilled an election commitment to re-empower local government by handing planning powers for the two precincts back to the BCC, stating "local councils are best placed to determine what is right for their local communities (and) this agreement ... demonstrates that we're getting on with the job of re-empowering the Brisbane City Council ... to provide practical and appropriate solutions to local issues.

"Until now we've had a situation where the Queensland Government and South Bank Corporation were the planning bodies that assessed development applications in these areas against the approved development plans. But now that planning and assessment function will also transfer to Brisbane City Council."

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said the agreement would ensure that parkland management and planning powers were rightly returned to local government.

Lord Mayor Quirk explained "Council prides itself on its management of our city's parks with more than 2000 parks in Brisbane including the iconic New Farm Park and Mt Coot-tha and City Botanic Gardens, and the development of significant new parks at Tennyson and Milton.

"The Queensland Government recognises that using Council's expertise is the best way to manage these Brisbane assets and contribute to a clean and green city.

"Under this agreement we are committed to ensuring the South Bank and Roma Street Parklands are maintained to their current high standard and that all current operational arrangements will remain in place and continue to operate as usual.

"To assist with this, South Bank Corporation and QBuild staff currently engaged in managing and maintaining the respective Parklands will be transferred to BCC."

The changes to the South Bank Corporation Act 1989 to allow the transfer of powers were contained in the Economic Development Bill that was introduced to Parliament last month.

To ensure a smooth transition, development applications which have already been lodged with the Urban Land Development Authority will continue to be assessed by the Queensland Government.

New development applications lodged on or after 30th November will be assessed by Brisbane City Council.

Image: Brisbane's South Bank

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