Submission Guides

The Development Application (DA) for the proposed Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens lightshow development (Lumina Proposal) is now open for comment.

The formal submission period is from 20/10/2022 - 11/11/2022

The DA can be found at the following URL.

https://developmenti.brisbane.qld.gov.au/Home/FilterDirect?filters=DANumber=A006083027

The link below takes you straight to the submission page.

https://ofpm.brisbane.qld.gov.au/site/wss/form/development-application-submission?daNumber=A006083027

Individual submissions are most important.

Experience has shown that it is the number of submissions that carries the most weight, rather than expert content. This was true for the successful NO ZIPLINE campaign. The sample shown below is just one example of a submission.

Your submission does not have to be long or detailed. The council needs to know that MANY people have concerns about the proposal. Encourage your friends and workmates to put in a submission as well.

General information about the proposal

The proposed track is about 1km in length, in the old section of the gardens. The proposal is for 8-10 illuminated locations, separated so that lighting does not overlap between locations. The Night Walks are proposed to run for about 200 nights per year, from 6pm until 10pm, with an average of 1500 people per night and an expected number of 2,400 people per night during busy periods.

NOTES THAT MAY BE HELPFUL WHEN MAKING A SUBMISSION

• The main problem with the DA is that it is very short on detail. There is insufficient detail to make an assessment of impacts. This lack of detail in the DA needs to be impressed on the Brisbane City Council (BCC).

• Traffic and other noise are major issues for local residents. Nothing in the DA indicates how to mitigate impacts.

• Roadkill is already an issue around Mt Coot-tha. Increased traffic around Mt Coot-tha at night will result in increased roadkill.

• Parking will not be able to be accommodated inside the Gardens precinct only so street parking will be an issue for local residents.

• Ecology issues have not been addressed by the proponent. The impacts of light on microbats, owls and other nocturnal species could be significant. There is a federal government publication on the impact of lighting on wildlife that was not referred to in the DA or addressed later by the proponent. The proponent has not conducted any field surveys. The proponent acknowledged that the ecology report was from a “desk survey”.

• Gardens are a drought refuge for wildlife. The Gardens may be important habitat for migratory birds.

• There may be impacts of lighting on particular plant groups. There is no detail on how the proponent concludes “minimal impacts on wildlife or surrounding residents”.

• Privatisation of public spaces is another issue. The gardens are public land. Should public land be used for exclusive, fee paying, private purposes?