The Birkdale Community Precinct, including the proposed Redland Whitewater Centre, will not require a further federal environmental assessment after a reconsideration process confirmed the project is unlikely to have a significant impact on matters of national environmental significance, provided it is undertaken in the specified manner.
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The decision means no further approval is required under national environment law for the action to proceed, provided it is undertaken in the specified manner. It follows concerns raised by the Community Alliance for Responsible Planning about the project’s potential environmental impacts.
Redland City welcomed the outcome, saying the Commonwealth decision confirmed the precinct remains a “Not Controlled Action – Particular Manner” under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
The original decision, made on May 28, found the project was not a controlled action if undertaken in the manner specified in the decision. The federal reconsideration followed a public submission seeking a review of that decision.
Environmental concerns raised over the project
The reconsideration followed concerns from the Community Alliance for Responsible Planning about the potential impact of the development on koala habitat and groundwater at the Birkdale site.
The alliance argued that a shallow water table beneath the precinct was important to vegetation supporting koala habitat and called for the project to be declared a controlled action. Such a declaration would have brought the project within the federal environmental assessment and approval process under the EPBC Act.
The reconsideration instead confirmed the original finding that the project was not a controlled action if undertaken in the specified manner.
The federal decision includes measures intended to avoid significant impacts on listed threatened species and communities, including the koala. These include restrictions on clearing and construction within designated conservation and avoidance areas, requirements for a fauna spotter catcher during clearing, temporary fauna-exclusion fencing and measures to facilitate koala movement after construction.
Redland City said the outcome confirms the environmental assessment work undertaken as part of planning the precinct. The 62-hectare site includes a development area of less than 20 hectares, while almost 39 hectares, or about 62 per cent of the precinct, is proposed to be retained for conservation, protection, and ecological enhancement.
What happens next in Birkdale
Redland City has outlined a range of environmental measures as part of the project, including planting about 10,000 native trees and tube stock, establishing habitat corridors and tree canopy, installing nest boxes and other habitat features, and carrying out weed and pest management.
Specialist koala monitoring is also planned under a dedicated Koala Management Plan. The proposed whitewater channels are to be fully lined to prevent interaction with groundwater, while stormwater treatment systems are planned to improve water quality.
Redland City said the federal decision provides greater certainty as it progresses the wider Birkdale Community Precinct, which includes the Redland Whitewater Centre alongside community, recreational, and environmental facilities.
The first stage of works is expected to include roads, car parks, utilities, bulk earthworks and other infrastructure needed to provide access across the site. Redland City said those works are expected between 2027 and 2029. Construction of a public swimming lagoon is also expected to begin in 2027, ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
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The federal decision allows the project to proceed without further EPBC assessment, provided it is undertaken in accordance with the specified environmental requirements. Redland City has said it will continue to meet applicable Commonwealth and Queensland environmental requirements as the precinct progresses.
The outcome concludes the latest federal reconsideration process for the planned Olympic venue, following concerns raised about koala habitat and groundwater at the site.
Published 30-September-2026
