Logan City Council has drawn up plans to build a road through Wuraga Reserve, three hectares of koala inhabited bushland that runs between Bahrs Scrub and Beenleigh, but Division six Councillor Tony Hall has defended the koalas while also squashing rumours spread online.
Cr Hall has now stood at the last two council meetings to express his concerns about the road plans, while also explaining despite what is being said on social media ‘the road has not been approved or financed’.
Cr Hall said he and Councillor Karen Murphy met with residents and with road infrastructure planning officers about the proposed road.
They then facilitated residents speaking about their concerns directly to road infrastructure planning officers.
Cr Hall said the road development had not been approved and still needed to undergo community consultation and environmental studies.
“It doesn’t even have the funding to go ahead,” he said.
“Many of the residents were under the assumption that this road had already been approved, and that it had already been financed.
“This came as a result of miscommunication and false statements being made and spread around on private Facebook groups and social media.
“On these groups people were even saying it would be a four lane motorway and would be called ‘Murphy’s Motorway’.
“This is complete rubbish and isn’t true.
“People need to hold to account other people who are spreading lies on social media.
“This again highlights the importance of getting in touch with your local councillor and not just believing everything you read on social media.”
Most recently Cr Hall read the petition against the road at this month’s Council meeting.
The petition asked for community consultation before any decisions regarding the road through Wuraga Reserve were made, and at the time of the council meeting had been signed by 15 residents.
Cr Hall said he didn’t think the road is necessary.
“I do not believe that the infrastructure and the roads that it connects to are up to the task of the congestion and traffic going through,” he said.
“I understand that it’s in the conceptual stage but I would like my sentiments known on this issue.
“I am deeply concerned about the environmental impacts of this proposed road and the impacts that this proposed road may have for residents and landowners in Bahrs Scrub.
“I am also concerned about the increased traffic that will flow onto other connected roads…as a result of it being built.
“Most of all I am concerned about Logan’s littlest residents, our native koalas.
“These koalas do not have the capacity to tell us that their homes are being taken away. But I’m here to represent all residents of Division 6, even them.
“I want people to know that Councillor Hall does have teeth and when it comes to protecting the lives and homes of Division 6 residents I will bite when I need to.
“This petition shares many of the views that I have…I am somewhat supportive of it, but in some cases I am not.
“I am not supportive of alternate proposals that some of these residents have put forward. One of which divides the koala reserve completely in half and another which runs a proposed road straight through the Beenleigh tip.”
