Urban Change in the Catchments

By Margaret de Wit

Councillor Pullenvale Ward/Brisbane City Council

Abstract

The following provides an overview of developments in the Cubberla and Witton catchments in the post-war years. Some interesting population data show some dramatic changes in some areas of the catchments, and more stable development in others.

Urban Development in the Catchments

Urban development caused large-scale changes to the Cubberla and Witton Catchments in the post-War years. The suburbs of Indooroopilly and Kenmore flourished from the 1950s and 60s when the dairy and pineapple farms were replaced with houses.

Development has had an ongoing effect on both Witton and Cubberla Creeks with Cubberla largely affected by the establishment of Chapel Hill mainly from the early 1970s.  The population of Chapel Hill increased 65% from 1971 to 1976 and from 1976 to 1996 a massive 135% (ABS figures).  Unfortunately much of this development occurred in the era when ecological values were not high on the agenda and thus sections of both creeks were consigned to concrete pipes and drains – a practice which will be lamented for generations to come.

But the battle is not yet over. With the advent of the new City Plan in a few months time there is an urgent need for vigilance, particularly in the Fig Tree Pocket area where approximately half of the suburb (the acreage area) is designated Emerging Community in the City Plan. This will allow development of residential lots which could be as small as 300 sq metres and townhouses. The impact of this on the environment will be dramatic. A large tract of land taking in the large lot area of Chapel Hill beginning of Mt Coot-tha Forest Park and part of Kenmore is also in this category. Whilst at State and Local Government levels there is more attention paid to preserving the waterways enforcement of local laws and development conditions is not always satisfactory.

The message is that if residents want the waterways to be adequately protected there is a need for greater involvement from the people at large to ensure that the authorities at all levels put appropriate policies in place and then diligently enforce them.

POPULATION STATISTICS - CUBBERLA/WITTON CATCHMENTS

(Source:  Brisbane City Council Ward Profiles and ABS Statistics)

Chapel Hill	286%
Kenmore	2.6%
Fig Tree Pocket	104%
Indooroopilly	10.6%

Bibliography: Brisbane City Council (Various dates). Brisbane City Council Ward Profiles. Brisbane City Council, Brisbane.

Source: Robin Trotter (ed.), Cubberla and Witton Creeks, Their physical characteristics and land use over time, Proceedings of Symposia held in 2000 and 2001 on the Cubberla and Witton Creek Catchments, 2001 Brisbane, Cubberla-Witton Catchments Network.