News
26 August, 2025
Lowood lot of debate
Public submissions are now open for a controversial Development Application (DA) to build over 450 residential lots at 2984 Forest Hill Fernvale Road, Lowood.
Sargeant Planning lodged the DA with Somerset Council in March, proposing to develop a residential subdivision with varying levels of residential density, including two different lot sizes: the majority of the site to be mapped with a density of 19 dwellings/Ha, with some areas to have a higher net density of 33 dwellings/Ha or 1 dwelling per 300m².
In total, the DA proposes to create 458 total residential allotments (488 dwellings) with a minimum lot size of 450m², naming it the Lowood Village. This comes after Council approved a separate DA in February to develop the land across the road (2983 Forest Hill Fernvale Road) into 374 residential lots, also submitted by Sargeant Planning.
According to the latest DA, the establishment of the proposed Lowood Village aims to facilitate a more complete and concise development outcome and guide future development on the site.
“The site is located within an existing low density urban area and the development of the site will serve as infill development completing the residential locality at Lowood along Forest Hill Fernvale Road,” Sargeant Planning stated in the DA.
“It is considered that the proposed development is consistent with the vision for the site in relation to the provisions of the strategic framework and associated Emerging Community Areas map for Lowood, which envisages residential development for the site with consideration of the drainage corridor.”
However, several residents have criticised the proposed development on social media, with Greg saying: “Streetlights over the chook pen, driveways and a bitumen road along the back fence, potentially years of noisy earthworks and construction. Not the retirement prospect we had planned on.”
Residents also criticised the lack of local infrastructure to support the population and traffic increase. “There is not the infrastructure, doctors, etc, to support so many new residents,” Sue said.
Another big point of criticism was the size of the blocks, with many saying 450m² is too small for a country town. “450m², two-story houses in a country town? Nahhh this isn’t right. I lived here all my life and I loved it cause it was quiet and at the time, there was only 3k of population,” Isabel said.
However, Skye pointed out infrastructure only comes with demand: “The infrastructure won’t come until the demand is there and that means more houses,” she wrote. “While I would prefer they stopped forcing people into such stupidly small blocks given we aren’t strapped for land, I also understand people need homes and the cost of houses won’t come down unless the demand does.”
Public submissions are open until September 25, with more information available at https://eservices.somerset.qld.gov.au/ under DA26044.
