The Gully is a five acre area of bushland in a gorge which runs down to the Brisbane river in Highgate Hill. Brisbane City Council sold The Gully to private investors in 1959. Since the early 1980s the area has been subject to numerous development proposals. Until recently, each of these proposal were defeated due to considerable pressure from residents. The last time a proposal was rejected was when council rejected Philip Usher’s plan for 60 detached household in 2000. Usher immediately appealed the decision at the land and environment court. The Highgate Hill Protection Society co-responded with council, in a bid to ensure that Council ran a serious case against Usher.

Developers however, eventually convinced Council to accept a revised proposal, reducing the original number of houses to 29, and retaining 4500m squared of bushland. The community rejects this proposal pointing out that vast amounts of the gully will be destroyed, and that it will cause potential health risks to local residents due to the massive quantities (35 000 m3 ) of land fill that would be bought in to level the gully.

The Highgate Hill Protection Society and the Gully Action Group argue that the Gully is the last inner city bush land corridor in Brisbane. It is home to an enormous range of flora and fauna, including more than 60 species of birds (Gully Gazette 2000). “It acts as the heart, soul and lungs of our suburb.” Said Leach.

According to Council guidelines, there’s supposed to be one hectare of park land per thousand residents. In Highgate Hill there is 1.25 hectares of park land per 5000 residents. Although Highgate Hill residents are paying the same rates as those in other areas.

In 2001 an alternative development proposal was put to council. This proposal involved a high rise section and saved 90% of the Gully, both Highgate Hill Protection Society and Gully Action Group supported this proposal. However residents were told this year that the original proposal for 29 households is to go ahead.

Local residents have campaigned tirelessly to save the Gully. Unfortunately the mainstream media has tended to see the Gully as a NIMBY issue. Yet it is about much more than peoples backyards. The level of land-fill to be used in the development of the Gully is the largest amount ever to be used in Queensland. The development plan for the Gully is extremely destructive to the whole community’s ecology and shows a distinct lack of creativity. Even the Liberal party opposition spokesperson was shocked that such a development plan was passed by Council.

The Gully has the potential to be an environmental asset to Council and State Government. It could be regenerated in to Rainforest, providing significant tourism potential for Brisbane.

Pressure Groups are committed to saving the Gully as a green space for the local community, and for greater Brisbane. When The Highgate Hill Protection Society challenged Philip Usher in Court they managed to raise $17,000 to cover legal fees, amongst themsleves. The fight to save the Gully is really about whether local communities have the right to protect their natural resources. And whether government’s will act for their constituents genuine needs, or in the interests of business profits.