Talk of the Town is back - and we're coming in with a big one.
After nearly a year away, host Von Hosking returns with a special edition episode that the Hills District community has been asking for.
The City of Moreton Bay has released draft precinct planning proposals for both Arana Hills and Ferny Hills - and the scale of what's being proposed has caught many residents completely off guard. We're talking buildings up to 15 storeys in Arana Hills. Twelve storeys in Ferny Hills. Significant density increases across suburban streets. And a consultation window that many locals only just found out about.
The story exploded across local community Facebook pages and Echo News socials. Questions flooded in. So Echo News did what we do - we got onto it, reached out to council, and decided the best way to get real answers for this community was to sit down with your local councillor face to face.
In this episode, Von speaks with Councillor Matt Constance, Division 10, City of Moreton Bay - putting the community's exact questions to him directly. No spin. No PR. Just answers.
Council is now inviting further feedback from the community before the plan is finalised.
Have your say — consultation currently open until 4pm Thursday 9 April 2026🔗 Ferny Hills 🔗 Arana Hills
Sign the community petition: 🔗 Ferny Hills & Arana Hills Precinct Proposals: Give our community time to have a say!
Questions/ Topics Timestamps:
04:15 What is actually being proposed for Ferny Hills and Arana Hills?
05:55 Matt walks through the draft precinct plans in plain language
07:36 How were the building heights and precinct boundaries determined?
10:00 Were lot sizes, setbacks, landscaping and parking considered?
11:17 Will the rezoning negatively impact liveability and neighbourhood character?
16:38 What community infrastructure benefits come with increased density?
18:58 Roads and transport - will infrastructure keep pace?
20:50 This is still a draft - what happens after consultation closes?
23:58 Community concern: one month is not enough time
26:33 Redevelopment of existing housing sites - realistic timelines
29:18 Traffic modelling - what has been done and will residents see it?
32:22 Public transport - buses, trains and Ferny Grove station capacity
35:54 Cohesion with the SEQ Plan - fast-tracked approvals and state targets
38:42 Why here? Why not Strathpine, Lawnton, Petrie, Redcliffe?
41:08 Utilities, water, sewerage - can the infrastructure handle it?
42:34 Schools - are they nearing capacity and who is responsible?
48:09 School zone traffic, pedestrian safety, drop-off and pick-up
49:40 Has council spoken to school leadership or the Education Department?
51:26 Healthcare - doctors, dentists and allied health services
54:19 Flooding, overland flow and Kedron Brook
56:00 Parking - will developments be required to provide enough on-site?
58:01 Key centres - minimum density requirements and planning mechanisms
59:15 Affordable housing - incentives, enforcement and definitions
01:02:15 Property and land - no one is being forced to sell
01:04:43 The pressure developers bring on existing residents
01:08:58 Developer meetings - how many has council had in the past 12 months?
01:10:00 Property valuations and council rates after rezoning
01:12:12 Community consultation - when were residents first notified?
01:13:51 Is this the final consultation?
01:16:07 Why are so many residents saying this is the first they've heard of it?
01:18:03 Could council have done better on community engagement?
01:20:24 Community groups and local media - part of the consultation ecosystem
01:24:56 Were residents on directly affected streets individually notified?
01:26:55 Will council offer more community information sessions?
01:29:28 The petition - 374 signatures and growing
01:31:04 Will the consultation period be extended?
01:32:29 If the majority oppose, will council reconsider?
01:32:47 Does Cr Matt Constance personally support these zoning changes?
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