Brisbane City Council has announced it will use special measures to ensure around 180 properties in the Moorooka War Workers Housing Estate are protected.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said recent heritage and character surveys had revealed the significance of the properties, which were used during the Second World War.
“Our surveys have shown these properties are historically important, so we don’t want them lost to demolition and development,” Cr Schrinner said.
“So, we are stepping in by proposing a Temporary Local Planning Instrument (TLPI), which will be voted on by Council on Tuesday before it is sent to the State Government for support.
“The action we are taking will ensure these properties are protected for the next two years ahead of the introduction of a local Neighbourhood Plan.
“Local residents told us they wanted local heritage protected when we first consulted with them for the Nathan, Salisbury, Moorooka Neighbourhood Plan.
“This measure is one of the ways we will ensure that happens.”
He said Council’s actions will means the City is able to ensure the properties within the precinct are protected.
Cr Schrinner said the Moorooka War Workers Housing Estate, which includes properties on Nettleton Crescent as well as parts of Currey Avenue, Fegen Drive and surrounding streets, remain Brisbane’s and Queensland’s first and only large-scale Commonwealth government-initiated estate, built during the Second World War.
“These properties were originally built to house residents employed in nearby war industries at Rocklea and Salisbury. Seeking to protect them honours their historical importance and the role their occupants played in Australia’s wartime efforts,” he said.
“We are committed to planning for the future while also protecting our city’s unique history and the things we all love about Brisbane.”
Cr Schrinner said the TLPI sought to balance the practical requirements of modern living standards with conserving important heritage values of the properties.
The TLPI will have an effective date of 2 August 2022, subject to Queensland Government agreement.
“We’ll be notifying all property owners in the precinct once the Queensland Government has reviewed the TLPI and Council has formally adopted it,” he said.
The TLPI will provide interim protection while Brisbane City Plan 2014 is updated to include the war workers estate heritage listing.
