Residents are required to submit comments to peninsula@springfieldqld.au, where Springfield City Group will respond to the issues raised before forwarding the final, developer-handled documentation to the department. Community groups say this creates a risk that critical objections could be filtered, minimised, or reworded before they reach federal assessors. Only the “final documentation” prepared by the developer, will be publicly released.

Environmental advocates argue that this arrangement creates a perception – and the potential – of bias within the EPBC assessment process, as the department will be relying primarily on the proponent’s own summaries and responses to community concerns.

The Peninsula Precinct proposal would convert 18.9 hectares of core koala habitat within a 420-hectare area of ecologically significant Woogaroo Forest bushland into a high-density precinct of more than 5,000 dwellings, including buildings reaching up to 20 storeys. Conservationists warn the project threatens endangered koalas and vulnerable species such as the Grey-headed Flying Fox, Tusked Frog, Powerful Owl and White-throated Needletail. The forest also contains one of the last four known patches of Woogaroo Vine Scrub, a critically important refuge for several threatened plant species.

An Environment Department spokesperson said the process being used for the Peninsula Precinct follows the statutory requirements of the EPBC Act. “As a normal part of the process, and to ensure transparency, the final Preliminary Documentation must include a summary of all public comments received and how they have been addressed,” the spokesperson said.

The Save Woogaroo Forest Group is urging residents to lodge submissions and contact the Environment and Water Minister, local MPs, and Ipswich City Council, warning that this short consultation period may be the only immediate opportunity to influence the federal assessment.

Second Springfield DA Deepens Transparency Concerns

Community frustration has intensified with the release this week also of a second, simultaneous Springfield development undergoing EPBC assessment: the Scenic Precinct (EPBC2020/8651), also controlled by Springfield City Group and also requiring submissions to be sent directly to the proponent.

The Scenic Precinct, located along Springfield College Drive, seeks approval for a mixed-use development affecting nationally protected species including the koala, Grey-headed Flying Fox, Swift Parrot and Regent Honeyeater. Public comment is open for only 15 business days, until December 17, 2025.

As with the Peninsula Precinct, all submissions must be lodged directly with the developer—via scenic@springfieldqld.au or mailed to a Springfield City Group PO Box – before being forwarded to the federal department.

Environmental groups say the two overlapping assessments significantly increase the burden on residents attempting to analyse complex ecological documents with limited time. Volunteers assisting the community describe the dual processes as “exhausting and overwhelming,” especially given the ecological significance of Woogaroo Forest and the cumulative impacts the developments may have.

Advocates warn that running two large EPBC processes simultaneously – and routing all public comment through the developer for both – appears to erode confidence in the transparency of the system. They argue the arrangement risks “sanitising” objections and may make it harder for residents to have their voices accurately represented in federal decision-making.

Concerns have also been raised about “piecemeal” or “stealth” approvals, in which multiple linked developments progress through separate pathways, making it more difficult for the public to understand the full scale of habitat loss within the fast-developing western growth corridor.

Environmental groups are continuing to urge residents to participate, warning that despite the procedural obstacles, strong community submissions remain critical to safeguarding the remaining biodiversity of Woogaroo Forest.