Residents of Springfield and surrounding suburbs are being invited to comment on a proposal by Springfield City Group Pty Ltd to develop a mixed-use precinct on land off Springfield College Drive. The project, known as the Scenic Precinct, is currently progressing through Australia’s environmental assessment pathway as EPBC 2020/8651.
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A different assessment process
Unlike most proposals assessed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act), this stage of public commenting is being managed by the project proponent rather than the Federal Environment Department.
Instead, Springfield City Group, the project proponent, is managing the public feedback process directly. This difference means submissions for this stage are not lodged via the Commonwealth’s EPBC public portal. For the Scenic Precinct, community members must send their submissions directly to the developer, either by email or post.
To help people understand the proposal, project documentation, including detailed technical reports and ecological assessments, has been made available by the proponent via consultancy Saunders Havill Group. The material outlines the proposed works, environmental values of the site and predicted impacts. (The ecological report is lengthy and highly technical.)
What the ecological reports say
One of the key documents available is the most recent ecological assessment prepared by Saunders Havill. The report states that the Scenic Precinct project area covers 24.20 hectares, all of which is identified as ‘critical habitat’ for the Koala, Grey-headed Flying-fox, Swift Parrot, and Regent Honeyeater.
The refined proposal area would involve clearing the full 24.20 hectares, resulting in what the report describes as both the removal and functional loss of critical habitat for these species. It notes that this could have a ‘significant impact’ on Koalas, based on known site usage and the broader ecological context of the area. Those findings are among the matters residents are being asked to review during the current public comment stage.
Save Woogaroo Forest urges residents to participate
Local conservation groups have taken an active interest in the proposal, including community-led organisation Save Woogaroo Forest. According to Save Woogaroo Forest, residents should be aware that the current consultation process differs from the standard federal model, as submissions are being collected directly by Springfield City Group rather than through the Commonwealth’s environment portal.
The group has been urging Springfield and Springfield Lakes locals to lodge a submission before the deadline and has provided guidance and templates to help people prepare their comments. While Save Woogaroo Forest has highlighted environmental concerns based on the ecological reports, the group also encourages all residents — regardless of their position — to participate so a broad range of community views are recorded.
How to make a submission
Public comments on the Scenic Precinct proposal close on 17 December. Because this stage is being coordinated by the proponent, submissions must be sent directly to:
Email: scenic@springfieldqld.au
Postal: Scenic Precinct Development, PO Box 4167, Springfield QLD 4300
Residents may address aspects in their submissions such as environmental impacts, design matters, or land-use considerations. Submissions will form part of the proponent-managed comment record, which will be available to inform the next stages of assessment under the EPBC framework.
Why this matters
Major development proposals commonly attract strong local interest, particularly in parts of south-east Queensland experiencing growth. Public comment periods provide a practical opportunity for residents to set out local knowledge, raise concerns, and suggest matters they believe should be considered in the assessment.
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As the Scenic Precinct referral moves through the EPBC framework, community feedback submitted during this stage may be considered as part of the assessment and help shape any future decisions. With the submission window closing on 17 December, residents who wish to have their views recorded have a limited timeframe to do so.
Published 5-December-2025
