URBAN DEVELOPMENT REDUCING RESIDENTIAL BLOCK SIZES

The Brisbane City Council has placed a plan in front of the state government for approval that reduces the minimum residential lot size from 600 m² (standard block size) to 300 m² in low density areas and as low as 180 m² in low to medium density areas.  The plan is addressing the future introduction of higher density housing in growth corridors.

Whilst this is a windfall for property developers and landowners, it certainly has the potential to reduce the amount of natural turfgrass to be supplied to residential properties in the future.  On the plus side the need for open space parklands in surrounding areas will increase.

More and more of the main high population regional councils will be considering this especially those surrounding the Southeast Queensland area (Logan, Ipswich, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast for example).  It will more than likely rub off on major regional areas such as Townsville, Cairns and Mackay with their local and overseas population attraction for sustained growth.

Southeast Queensland Turf producer members need to consider their future strategic direction, marketing and contact base as a result and begin to develop strategies on future developments involving open space parklands, sporting facilities and iconic tourist developments utilizing natural turfgrass.

The use of natural turfgrass for tourist attraction, sport, health and well-being has been well proven. This along with environmental concerns, and increasing in severity of natural high density rain events and natural turfgrass’s ability to respond, all needs to be considered.

This does not take away the ability of natural turfgrass to add value to residential homesites and commercial properties outside the main growth corridors.