STATEMENTS BY MEMBERS

Ms COFFEY (Griffith) (16:23): In my community of Griffith decisions about the Montague Road precinct will change South Brisbane and West End forever. The former Visy site is a 7.1 hectare site on Montague Road in South Brisbane. It's the last publicly owned riverfront land in Brisbane's inner city.

The Queensland government must listen to our community and the people who will live with its decisions about how the Visy site is used. But just six days after public consultations had closed, the Queensland government named Lendlease as the preferred proponent. My community deserves to know how their submissions informed that decision and how they can influence what happens next.

In my submission, I called for public land to remain in public hands. The state government's announcement provides no such commitment. If this site is to be used for housing, then social and affordable housing must be part of the plan.

West End State School, Brisbane State High School and Brisbane South State Secondary College already face enrolment pressure. More homes must also come with greater school capacity, community facilities, accessible public transport and safe walking and cycling links. The state government has not given any firm commitments to keeping publicly owned land in public hands, they have not given any firm commitments on building the community infrastructure needed to keep pace with population, and they have not committed to supporting already under-pressure schools.

I want to thank our residents, our member for South Brisbane, the local councillor and groups, including Don't Sell Southbank 2.0, for their ongoing advocacy. I urge the Queensland government to engage openly, listen carefully and act on residents' concerns. These decisions will shape West End and South Brisbane forever.