Queensland Government Announces new park and draft Greenspace Strategy

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has announced plans for a major new park and released a Draft Queensland Greenspace Strategy in the lead up to the Queensland Growth Management Summit on 30th and 31st March.
Premier Bligh joined Member for Sandgate Vicky Darling at Fitzgibbon Chase near Carseldine, to announce plans for a 40 hectare new bushland park, stating âopening up and creating more greenspace for Queenslanders to enjoy is part of our growth management strategy.
"More greenspace is essential if South East Queensland is to retain the lifestyle we are famous for. The best estimates say our population in SEQ will grow from around three million today to 4.4 million in 2031.
"Fitzgibbon Bushland Park will emerge out of State owned law that has been inaccessible to the public for many years and now it will become a public park that can be enjoyed for generations."
Premier Bligh said the 40 hectare park will feature:
â¢2.7 kilometre of bushland walking trails;
â¢A 'kickabout' space - which includes a turfed multi-purpose area large enough for informal ball sports;
â¢A multi purpose games court supported by fitness equipment; and
â¢Picnic shelters and BBQ and seating facilities.
Premier Bligh continued âwe are on track to see construction start in May this year and the park should be open by 2011.
"This new park comes shortly after the completion of the new Kangaroo Point Cliffs Park and is a demonstration of our Government's commitment to increase green space for Queenslanders."
Vicky Darling said the park would be a welcome addition to the green space in her constituency, stating âthis park will be enjoyed by families for generations and it is exactly the type of green space in this area.�?
Premier Bligh said that greater Brisbane has less green space than other Australian capitals with just 19% of public greenspace compared with 49% for the Greater Sydney region.
"In Toward Q2 we said we wanted to protect 50% more land for nature conservation and public recreation by 2020.
"That means we need up to 40,000 hectares of new green space and public recreation land over the next ten years.
"The Draft Queensland Greenspace Strategy will provide a guide to future planning and development of green space in Queensland."
Measures in the Queensland Greenspace Strategy include:
⢠Promoting additional green space by making new parkland mandatory on all new housing developments;
⢠A statewide inventory of land available for greenspace by the end of this year;
⢠Working with private land owners to identify greenspace opportunities;
⢠Indentify opportunities for greenspace in the State Government's capital building program - (for example the new community park at Wyaralong Dam and the new park as part of the Gateway upgrade).
All Queenslanders are invited to have their say on the Draft Queensland Greenspace Strategy with submissions to be used to help the Queensland Government determine the priority actions in the final greenspace strategy.
Submissions close at 5pm on Friday 7th May and can be submitted via

http://www.dip.qld.gov/greenspace