STATE Development officials have consented to the building of 73 dwellings at Bellbird Park.

CB Developments wants to build on core koala habitat at 12-26 Eugene Street and axe tens of hundreds of trees, some aged more than 200 years old.

Ipswich City Council will now assess the DA across 4.5ha, with the plans set to face scrutiny under federal Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act guidelines.

A council decision is required to include SARA referral agency response and conditions.

The Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning told The Tribune that the amended, proposed subdivision would reduce the development footprint and “potential impacts on koala habitat”.

“SARA’s response advised that the proposed development complied with State code 25 – development in Southeast Queensland koala habitat areas,” a department spokesperson said.

“Further, the conditions outlined for the development by SARA include:

· for part of the balance area within the koala habitat area, the applicant is required to enter into a preservation covenant;

· prepare a rehabilitation plan and implement this across the covenant area;

· prepare a koala management plan;

· deliver an environmental offset for any impacts to areas of koala habitat;

· implement koala sensitive design measures including fencing.”

The controversial Bellevue Woods development has been ongoing since 2015.

The council had earlier voted down the project over safety concerns on steep land, questions over natural drainage patterns, and a failure to conserve vital wildlife corridors.

The council rejected a plan for 340 dwellings which would have seen the felling of thousands of healthy trees, but the developer reduced the volume of housing after legal battles.

Division 2 Councillor Paul Tully once described the plan as “the worst town planning application” in almost 40 years.

The development is expected to exacerbate existing traffic congestion, particularly around Jones Road and Rosemary Street.

Across Woogaroo Creek from Springfield and Camira, the homes would be in the easternmost pocket of Bellbird Park along Eugene Street and bounded by Fiona Street.

Around 35 percent of prime bushland in Bellbird Park still faces the axe under the amended proposal.

Respected local environmental specialist Keith McCosh said tree reports showed many individual trees were aged 200 years or more and were of great significance for Ipswich.

“John Oxley rowed up the newly discovered Brisbane River only 200 years ago, in 1824,” he said.

“These trees were probably mature trees back then. This is very special habitat that should not be destroyed in this way and for this purpose.

“The trees identified for destruction by the developer are generally large Ironbarks of significant age and are not regrowth trees but old growth trees.

“This specific area is also confirmed as being of remnant status, Fibrosa Ironbark Forest.

“Clearing of this area is of special concern as it is obviously of very high environmental value, with so many very old trees.

“Such an area would be conserved under Council’s Vegetation Management Code.”

Residents want the developer to destroy invasive pest plants that are now cloaking trees in the remaining gullies which would provide essential places of refuge for animals like koalas that would be displaced by the plans.

Biohazard cat’s claw creeper vines, lantana and the asparagus fern are overwhelming the area around the development footprint.