VAST satellite cities could be built between Brisbane and the Gold Coast to ease the crippling population pressures threatening southeast Queensland, according to Logan Mayor Pam Parker. Speaking on the Gold Coast at The Courier-Mail's Our Future Your Say forum, Cr Parker said the areas around Logan and Ipswich, which still held large tracts of greenfill land otherwise rare in the southeast corner, would be perfect for taking the strain off the major cities to the north and south which are already battling housing affordability and land availability problems.
"These areas (Logan and Ipswich) have vast greenfill space which could house satellite cities where people could live, work and play," she said.
"This would help to ease the gridlocked traffic on our freeways and pressures on our existing infrastructure." You can hear Mayor Parker's speech online at http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/push-for-satellite-cities-to-ease-population-pressure/story-e6freoof-1225836732561
She said Logan and Ipswich – often been viewed as poor cousins of the Gold Coast and Brisbane – would appeal to new arrivals wanting the best of both worlds without having to shell out the higher costs for housing in both centres.
She also said Logan would be able to offer a lower density of housing which would be attractive to new residents wanting room to grow their families, instead of living in confined apartments in the cities.
The second forum in The Courier-Mail's Our Future Your Say series, in partnership with Griffith University and the Brisbane Institute, drew about 60 people to Griffith University's Parkwood campus last night.
The Bligh Government has called a special summit on population growth for later this month and appointed a panel of experts to advise it how to ensure the state's lifestyle does not fall victim to urban sprawl.
Premier Anna Bligh has flagged a range of incentives for people who commit to living in regional Queensland and committed to drawing up a state migration plan.