WITH plenty of over-sized blocks available in this Brisbane west suburb, real estate agents say there’s room for dozens, if not hundreds of new homes.
But the locals aren’t too keen on a population explosion.
Sitting just 7km from the Brisbane CBD, Ray White Real Estate principal Craig Sharp says Chapel Hill has big growth potential.
“As far as population growth Chapel Hill has far from reached its limit,” Mr Sharp said.
“There are still big pieces of land and there is one on the market now that’s more than 5000sq m which you would expect to be split into blocks of about 405sq m or group-titled townhouses.
“I reckon there may 20 or 25 properties on semi-rural-like lots and it’s where two houses will turn in to 30.”
The saving grace for locals not keen on the further urbanisation of Chapel Hill is the zoning.
The area is zoned as low-density residential (formerly Res A), which means only houses or group titled townhouses can be erected.
Mr Sharp said it is this zoning that separates Chapel Hill from neighbouring suburbs Indooroopilly and Taringa.
“The next two suburbs in, Indooroopilly and Taringa, are in the higher-density zone and there’s heaps and heaps of units. We are the first straight Res A suburb coming out (of Brisbane),” he said.
“The developers have to build either freehold homes or group title townhouses. It won’t be units. “But what we are going to find is that all homes in the area in years to come will be on small blocks and if you want a big block you are going to have to move further out.”
Chapel Hill’s population was a mere 4171 in 1976.
By 2011, it had grown to 10,168.
Any future population growth is welcomed with some trepidation by Melinda Beckinsale, the owner and manager of popular Simon’s Gourmet Gallery, at MetroWest, on Moggill Rd.
Ms Beckinsale said it’s always important to have new customers coming through but the bigger the suburb, the more appealing it becomes for multi-national stores wanting to muscle in on small businesses like hers.
“It can make a massive difference as long as those people that come in support the local business and buy local products,” she said.
“Theoretically you’re better off with more residences but when a suburb grows a lot the nationals get interested and it can flip the other way.”
The magnet-like attraction of Indooroopilly Shopping Centre on Chapel Hill residents, which is just a few minutes down the road, means Ms Beckinsale has to ensure her business keeps evolving.
They already have ready-to-eat freshly made meals, meat, groceries, and specialty chocolates paired with sit-down dining.
“We are now BYO with no corkage fee and we’ve done that so we offer more to our customers,” she said
A short drive down the road from MetroWest is the quaint Chapel Hill Uniting Church.
The original Methodist chapel erected on the site in 1873 is, according to the University of Queensland, the namesake of the suburb.
But despite being named Chapel Hill, Mr Sharp said the suburb was more undulating than hilly, although it offered some brilliant elevated views.
“Chapel Hill steps up to, and wraps around, the base of Mt Coot-tha so there’s a lot of houses with elevated views,” he said.
Apart from the views, newcomers are attracted to the area by a number of well-regarded schools within close proximity.
Ambrose Treacy College, Brigidine College, St Peters Lutheran and Holy Family Primary School are located in Indooroopilly; Brisbane Boys College is in Toowong; Our Lady of the Rosary School is situated in Kenmore and locally there is Chapel Hill State School.
“There is a huge change occurring with about 90 per cent of our customers being older people moving out and downsizing,” he said.
“Coming into the suburb are younger families and, for them, it’s their second or third home and they are looking to stay for the duration of schooling for their children.”
Originally Published: http://www.couriermail.com.au/