MEDIA RELEASE

 

Northeast Business Park Lodges Appeals

25 January 2010

Northeast Business Park Pty Ltd (NEBP) today lodged appeals with the Planning and Environment Court against recent decisions by Moreton Bay Regional Council regarding the North Harbour Development Application.

The appeals are the formal response permitted under the Integrated Planning Act 1997 as part of the Development Application process with the Council.

“We are responding to the refusal of the application by Moreton Bay Regional Council after the project had been recommended for approval in full by the Queensland Government Coordinator-General,” NEBP Chief Executive Officer Jeff Smith said.

“There is overwhelming community support for this project documented through five years of community engagement.

“The rigorous Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process included extensive environmental studies that satisfied the Queensland Government’s requirements and addressed the Council’s conditions.

”NEBP was notified by the Minister for Infrastructure and Planning, Stirling Hinchliffe, regarding the Queensland Government’s consideration to declare the project a ‘prescribed project’ under Part 5A of the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971 (SDPWOA) – a separate process to the Development Application underway with the Council.

“What happens at the State level is at the Minister’s discretion. We are following the legitimate legal options available to us through the appeal process as part of the current Development Application with the Council,” Mr Smith said.