More than 1350 homes are touted for a new $900 million suburb between Upper Kedron and The Gap.
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The massive development is one of Brisbane’s largest proposed property developments, covering 227 hectares next to the D'Aguilar National Park, an area bigger than South Brisbane and West End combined.
However, Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said about 90 hectares of the bushland would be preserved.
“This will include a significant portion of land being handed back to the people of Brisbane for conservation and recreational purposes,” Cr Quirk said on Monday.
"This development application is proposing more than 90 hectares - excluding the roads - of the land dedicated to council for the preservation of major waterway and ecological corridors."
In 2010 Brisbane City Council intended to acquire part of the bushland under the Bushland Acquisition Levy, because it backs on to the D’Aguilar National Park.
Western Australian property developer Cedar Woods will pay $68 million over four years for the 227 hectares of land, stretching from Upper Kedron in the north to The Gap in the south.
Cedar Woods' state manager Nathan Blackburne said the development represents an investment of more than $900 million, "delivering 550 jobs at any one time, and up to 1000 people at peak construction periods".
"We are committed to ensuring as many of these positions as possible are filled by local contractors," Mr Blackburne said.
An application was lodged with with Brisbane City Council on June 27.
In its bid to the market, it is proposed that work begin in 2015, with the first homes available in 2016. The homes will be built over 10 years.
Council will demand 90 hectares from the 227 hectare site be set aside as natural vegetation zones to protect the wildlife corridors.
"Cedar Woods is committed to preserving 40 per cent (90 hectares) of the site to green space," Mr Blackburne said.
"As part of this agreement, green space corridors will maintain important habitat connections through the Keperra Saddle to the south east of the site, with two waterways through the site."
Some local residents are worried traffic will exit the proposed development on to Mt Nebo Road, putting more pressure on already-congested peak hour morning and afternoon traffic through Ashgrove and The Gap.
They have also questioned why the land was sold.
Fee Stefani – a resident of The Gap who recently signed a petition calling for a local plan for the suburb – said she was worried green space was being lost.
“I am not happy about it at all,” Ms Stefani said.
“It is taking away more green space and I think that is what makes The Gap.
“We are very fortunate to be surrounded by green, but very close to town.
“And I certainly can’t understand why we need to develop so much in the inner-city, when there is plenty of room outside.
“And they can develop ‘outwards’ rather than develop all in, closer to town.”
However, council’s planning policy concentrates on developing ‘upwards’ - close to suburban centres - rather than outwards towards the city’s fringes.
Cr Quirk said residents will have 30 business days to lodge their comments on the application, before it is considered by Brisbane City Council’s planners.
