Protect the Bush Alliance
Position Statement
“Protect the Bush Alliance (PTBA) is an alliance of over twenty environmental groups. We actively advocate for the protection of areas of high conservation value and areas considered significant to communities from land clearing, mining and other activities which degrade the landscape. We facilitate the collection of biodiversity data in properties of interest, contributing to an improved understanding of the importance of biodiversity and other environmental values.
Despite considerable data on the birdlife present in the park (Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens) during the day, we have inadequate information about birds roosting or feeding in the park at night, as the gardens are not open after dark.
It is not possible to predict impact on fauna without knowing which species use the (Mt Coot-tha Botanic) gardens at any time during the day/night cycle. Nocturnal fauna surveys must be undertaken, preferably over several seasons.”
Birds Queensland
Position Statement
“Brisbane Botanical Gardens at Mt Coot-tha is a very important part of Brisbane’s precious green space. The Gardens have been nurtured by generations of volunteers for the enjoyment of the people of Brisbane. As such it is an inappropriate location for any commercial developments, especially an intrusive one such as the Lumina project. The Lumina project will negatively impact the flora and fauna that rely on the Gardens and the surrounding forest. The adverse impacts of such light and sound shows on nocturnal animals and birds as well as insects is well documented.”
Brisbane Astronomical Society
Position Statement
“The development application put to Brisbane City Council by Light Dreaming suggests the total light flux to be produced by the lighting fixtures across the entire Lumina Walk Mt Coot-tha may be approximately 2,248,000 lumens. This a lighting equivalent of approximately 5.6 to 7.5 centre-court professional tennis stadiums in simultaneous operation, for 150 nights each year, within the Mt Coot-tha Botanical Gardens.”
Friends of Brisbane Botanic Gardens and Sherwood Arboretum
Position Statement
“The position of the FBBGSA is that the proposal does not support, nor fulfil, the principles of a botanic garden. The project, like the ‘Zip Line’ is another attempt to further commercialise the gardens. These attempts of commercialisation appear to be pushing a paradigm shift to promote transformative societal change that directly affects the principles of botanic gardens.
The proposal threatens to undermine the botanic garden’s distinctive and invaluable position as a scientific resource that benefits Brisbane. Its purpose is not as a night-time playground for tourists.
The gardens are a sensitive and peaceful environment that already provides environmental awareness and a broad selection of activities for community engagement. We do not need glitzy laser shows for tourists at the expense of the gardens, its flora, fauna and the greater Brisbane community.”
FBBGSA Council Submission
Friends of Brisbane Botanic Gardens and Sherwood Arboretum Ltd objection to A006083027
Queensland Greens
Position Statement
“The Queensland Greens oppose the proposed Lumina light show at the
Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens. We have concerns surrounding the environmental impact of the show, the impact on local residents, the lack of an open tender process and the commercialisation of public space. We’re also concerned that there has been very minimal community consultation for such a significant and ongoing proposal that has long-term consequences for the local community.
We believe this project demonstrates what we’ve long known about the LNP Council, that they’ll sell off our public land to the highest bidder.”
Seal Chong Wah, Candidate for Paddington,
Michaela Sargent, Candidate for Walter Taylor & Charles Druckmann, Candidate for Pullenvale
Queensland Labor
Position Statement
“Our sitting Labor Councillors and I are deeply concerned about the LNP Council’s plan to lock the public out of the Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens for what could be up to 200 nights a year (for at least the next five years). Not to mention the impact on the native wildlife and rare plants that call our beloved Botanic Gardens home.
It’s disappointing for the community that the current LNP Council used their majority to push this contract through, ignoring residents’ concerns and commercialising yet another one of Brisbane’s iconic public spaces. I am personally very opposed to the Lumina contract and, if elected, I will do everything I can to stop it from proceeding.
Labor has a strong plan to protect Brisbane’s public spaces and stop the rampant over-commercialisation we’ve seen under the LNP, which we’re proud to be taking to the people of Brisbane at the March BCC election.”
Sún Etheridge – Labor for Paddington
Rebecca Hack – Labor For Walter Taylor & Roberta Albrecht – Labor for Pullenvale
LNP
Position Statement
Kurilpa Futures
Position Statement
We are a network group of community members from Kurilpa and part of a wider network of resident’s groups in the Brisbane area. We are advocating for a planning system that genuinely consults engages with the people of Brisbane, to ensure that any proposed plan and development decision has people, the built and natural environment at its heart. To ensure a healthy population, sustainable growth needs an accompanying growth in services, Green space, active transport, public space and a robust response to addressing the impacts of climate change. Mt Coot-tha must remain an unimpeded natural asset of the city.
The Gap Sustainability Initiative
Position Statement
We agree that the Botanical Garden serves as an important refuge for native and endangered species and should not be impacted by a light show and light pollution. In addition we are concerned about the lack of public transport and the need for private cars driving to the botanical garden increasing noise and pollution in the area already impacted heavily by the Western freeway.
Objection Submission
“The Internationally recognised Mt Coot-tha Gardens are funded by the Brisbane ratepayers who are extremely proud of their iconic gardens, with many visiting regularly. To turn it into a nightly lightshow undermines and devalues the wonderful work done by our past and present curators and their various teams of gardeners and other staff. They must be preserved for the enjoyment and source of information for future generations – not for the benefit of a private company or as a source of income for any commercial initiative.”
Susan C Keays PhD.
Supporter Statement
Research Fellow Dr Loren Fardell, an expert in the causes and effects of stress in wildlife, said: “Sound and light shows create a massive increase in the number of people and of artificial lights, sounds, and smells in these parks after dark, a time when most mammals, frogs, reptiles, and birds are most active. While the footprint of these shows may look small, their paths often wind through a lot of habitat and their impact extends well beyond the trail and can have really profound flow on effects through the food chain. Most Australian animals evolved with the natural darkness, quiet and smells of the night and they rely on them. For example, to be able to find food, find and communicate with each other, and to see, smell, hear and hide from predators or aggressive competitors.”
Dr Loren Fardell (she/her) | BEnvSciMgmt(Hons) PhD. Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Wildlife Sciences School of the Environment The University of Queensland.
Development Application (DA) for the proposed Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens lightshow development (Lumina Proposal)
The formal submission period was from 20/10/2022 – 11/11/2022
The formal submission period has ended. The development application was approved on Friday 28 July, 2023.
Thank you to all those people who took the time to make a submission.
Decision Documents related to the development application
Decision Notice BICR
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BCC Approval Package
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Decision assessment report
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You can still email the Lord Mayor, Deputy Lord Mayor and your local councillor to voice your opposition to the development.
Further issues identified with Light Dreaming DA
MAY 2023 - VIEW & DOWNLOAD
Town Planning Assessment Report
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VIEW ALL DA DOCUMENTS ON BCC WEBSITE
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BCC has requested further information from the Lumina Light and Sound show proponents, “LIGHT DREAMING”.
See below for the information requested regarding Proposed Patron Parking Arrangements, Proposed Shuttle Bus Operation and Wildlife Movement anf the proponent’s response. (Jan Feb 2023)
Further Issues 1
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traffic report response
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Further Issues 2
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Proponent’s response to issue of using a defined car parking area:
“… we anticipate that up to 850 ticket holders will be able to utilise the Brisbane Botanic Gardens Carpark based on patrons arriving by private vehicle at an occupancy of 2.6 persons per vehicle.
Given the event’s capacity of 2,400 patrons per night, we anticipate that approximately 1,300 ticket holders will need to travel to the event utilising the proposed shuttle bus service, illustrated in Figure 3-3 and Figure 3-4. Indicative bus stops (subject to a detailed Traffic Management Event Plan) include:
1. Ann Street Stop 12 (Inbound) – close proximity to King George Square Carpark and King George Square Bus Station
2. Mt Coot-tha Botanical Gardens Carpark (Inbound & Outbound)
3. Turbot Street Stop 3 (Outbound) – close proximity to King George Square Carpark and King George Square Bus Station
Based on the external connectivity to these indicative bus stop locations, we expect the proposed shuttle bus service to adequately transport the balance 1,550 patrons to/from the event on the maximum event.
… We also note that the existing infrastructure of the surrounding road network can withstand the volumes of traffic anticipated to arrive to the event, noting that Mount Coot-tha currently has more than 1,000,000 visitors in a year, equating to more than 2,700 visitors on average each day. As such, in our view, the development will have negligible impact on the surrounding road network.
Based on the material presented herein, there are no traffic engineering matters that should preclude approval of this proposal.”