New homes threatened by highway

Plans to resume new houses in Griffin for future upgrades to the Bruce Highway are being met with a growing tide of anger.

Moreton Bay Regional Council, which only approved the housing lots two years ago, has joined the protests describing it as “shocking” for residents.

It also called for TMR to declare the route of the Bruce Highway Western Alternative, through this region, now.

An ABC report said one family discovered the resumption plan just seven hours after getting the keys to their “dream home”.

The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) is reported to have sent an email to impacted households in Venture Drive, Griffin on Monday.

Land required

A copy of the letter, posted on Griffin Community social media page, says: “TMR has identified a future land requirement from your property…”

“Recognising the significant impact to your property from the land requirement, we intend to proceed with protected planning over the full property.”

TMR said it wanted to meet with residents “at your earliest convenience” to show the “identified impact to your property”.

A spokesperson for Moreton Bay Council said while upgrades to the Bruce Highway are absolutely essential for the region, the short notice was shocking.

“Council approved these housing lots in Griffin back in 2020 and when those plans were referred to the state government for assessment, they didn’t say there was the potential for property resumptions in this area,” the spokesperson said.

Declare route

“TMR cannot repeat this kind of short notice.

“Council again implores TMR to declare a route for the Bruce Highway Western Alternative.

“Residents need and deserve this kind of certainty, before construction on the Caboolture West Development Area gets underway.

“The Mayor and Deputy Mayor haven’t yet been briefed by Department of Transport and Main Roads on the Griffin property resumptions and will be meeting with them next week about it.”

The family quoted in the ABC report said they were likely to losing the entire block. “They just took away the joy of our new home”, said the father.

Questions asked

Another householder in Venture Drive questioned why houses had been allowed to be built with highway upgrades planned.

Moreton Daily inquired about Bruce Highway upgrades, asking specifically if and where it will be widened between the Pine Rivers Bridge and Anzac Ave and rumours of service roads being built on either side of the highway.

The TMR response, which did not answer specific questions, included: “We are undertaking integrated planning for upgrades to the Gateway Motorway and the Bruce Highway in north Brisbane and the Moreton Bay Region.

“We are currently in the business case phase for the project and will be engaging with the community in the near future.”