Currunda Creek
Trades and Services
REDLYNCH FNQ
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Frequently asked questions
Project Description
Bengali Land Pty Ltd as the landowner and applicant, is seeking approvals through Cairns Regional Council’s Planning Scheme to allow for future trades and services uses on the eastern part of the land located at 626R Redlynch Intake Road adjacent to the Boral Quarry
The Site
The land at 626R Redlynch Intake Road (Lot 2 on SP106972), Redlynch has a total area of 36.46 hectares (Figure 1).
The land is divided into two distinct areas. The western precinct is defined by the north and south tributaries of Currunda Creek. It consists of the lower slopes of the Lamb Range and features high-value vegetation on its western boundary as well as surrounding the Currunda Creek tributaries.
Figure 1. Subject site (blue highlight) and surrounding locality (source: Queensland Globe)
The eastern precinct commences at the base of the lower slopes where the two tributaries form a single creek., This precinct was cleared and used for cane farming and is mostly flat due to its use for quarrying and materials processing and stockpiles
Site history:
The eastern precinct was first used for cane production but was later repurposed as a quarry processing and stockpile area. The western precinct was utilized for horticultural purposes, including the establishment of a flower nursery and exotic fruit orchards.
In 2007 Bengali Land Pty Ltd established Crystal Cascades Horse Park incorporating a large, covered arena on the eastern precinct. The riding school component of the Horse Park ceased operations in 2021 due to Covid. Agistment for horses and private riding coaching continues at present. These activities will be relocated to the western precinct should these uses be approved.
Surrounding land uses:
The Boral Hard Rock Quarry is operated to the north of the site, and the Northern Outlook Adventure-Based Learning Centre to the south.
Land further north and south, and to the east, has been developed for urban and rural lifestyle housing.
Environmental matters:
High value vegetation is in the western precinct and along Currunda Creek. These areas will not be impacted by the establishment of the trades and services uses on the eastern precinct.
Agricultural Values:
While the site is in the Rural Zone in the planning scheme, cane production ceased over 40 years ago. The eastern precinct was then used as Quarry processing and product stockpile areas. Horticultural activities were carried out on the western precinct.
The land is degraded particularly in the eastern precinct where the trades and service uses are proposed due to the quarrying activities.
The limited capability of the site to draw water from Currunda Creek restricts opportunities for agricultural production operations, such as horticulture.
The site is not identified as “strategic cropping land” by the Department of Natural Resourses, although areas of “good quality agricultural land” are mapped in the western precinct.
Landscape:
The view from Redlynch Intake Road across the site is to the forested hillslopes of the Lamb Range, which willl not be impacted by the establishment of trades and services uses on the eastern precinct. The existing Horse Park arena and other infrastructure is prominent when driving past.
Access:
Access to the site from Redlynch Intake Road is from an existing intersection, which gives priority to through traffic and provision of a right turn lane for those turning into the site from the north.
What is proposed?
Part of the site – the eastern precinct – is proposed for “trades and services” uses. These uses include:
- Bulk Landscape Supplies – doesn’t include wholesale nursery or a garden centre
- Low Impact Industry – includes motor vehicle repairs, lawn mower and outboard repairs and low scale uses, but does not include spray painting, surface coating or tyre recycling and the like
- Outdoor Sales – agricultural machinery and motor vehicles;
- Warehouse – self storage and the like;
- Wholesale Nursery;
- Transport Depot – heavy vehicle parking and contractors depot
- Other uses – heavy industry or commercial – are not proposed.
Figure 2. Subject site (blue highlight) and surrounding locality (source: Queensland Globe)
Proposed uses have been selected to ensure that they support the Redlynch community, but do not create impacts such as noise, smell or significant additional traffic. There is a need for places for household and business storage and vehicles, boats, caravan storage. Residents in Redlynch and the Valley currently must travel significant distances north or south to access storage and light industry areas for services, establishment of business premises and employment.
A Subdivision to separate the western portion from the eastern portion of the site is proposed see Figure 2.
Figure 3. Drawing SK20A, illustrating Proposed Reconfiguration 1 Lot into 2 Lots
Initial approval is being sought to subdivide the eastern precinct into development precincts defined by new roads adjacent to the creek and to include Currunda Creek and the vegetation along its banks into a publicly owned drainage reserve (Figure 3).
Figure 4. Drawing SK31B, illustrating Proposed Reconfiguration 1 Lot into 4 Lots and drainage reserve.
Concept Plan
Development Merits
Due to its historical use as part the existing Quarry, the land in the eastern precinct is no longer suitable for agricultural use.
The land cannot be developed for residential uses because it is next to a Quarry.
There is no land available in Redlynch Valley to cater to the low-impact trades and services, which are necessary for the community of over 10,000 people residing there.
Residents of Redlynch and Redlynch Valley currently must travel north, east or south to establish business premises, access storage facilities or use trades and services.
Figure 5. Distance by car from Redlynch Neighbourhood Centre to Project Site and Northern Industry Precincts (source: Gilvear Planning)
Figure 6. Distance by car from Redlynch Valley Estate to Project Site and Northern Industry Precincts (source: Gilvear Planning)
The establishment of trades and services uses on the land will provide opportunities for some of these people to have a ‘place of work’ closer to home with numerous benefits, including: