Hamilton Mews Aeroglen development rejected by Cairns Regional Council

The developer had argued only a portion of the environmentally-zoned site would be used for the Aeroglen project, which was opposed by local residents.

The 7.82ha block at 29 Magee St, Aeroglen, is zoned environment conservation and management but Hamilton Mews Pty Ltd – whose directors are Mr Liveris and NT builder Paul Winter – wanted to create 11 lots ranging in size from 646sq m to 2488sq m, maintaining they were only using the lower portion of the site.

Cairns Regional Council has rejected an application to develop an environmentally-zoned block in Aeroglen.

The 7.82ha block at 29 Magee St is zoned environment conservation and management but Hamilton Mews Pty Ltd – whose directors are Darwin-based Andrew Liveris and NT builder Paul Winter – were pushing to create 11 lots ranging in size from 646sq m to 2488sq m.

Residents had been gearing up for a David and Goliath battle with the developer, having started a petition to stop the development.

Several residents argued that the site was home to “many little creatures” and suggested there had already been “overdevelopment” of the land surrounding the site.

The 7.82ha block at 29 Magee St, Aeroglen

In a submission to council, Hamilton Mews stated only the lower portion of the land would be used and the rest would remain as a reserve.

“This portion of the site is generally limited to non-remnant vegetation” the submission stated.

At Wednesday’s ordinary council meeting, the council unanimously rejected the application.

Division 5 councillor Amy Eden said: “The proposed development is inconsistent with the underlying planning rationale informing the above assessment benchmarks, namely to managing, protecting and restoring the natural features and values of the site.”

Councillors also noted the proposed development would create potential landslip risk, provide “adverse visual affects”, gave “insufficient consideration” to fire risks, failed to demonstrate how it would reduce “ecological effects” and had otherwise “failed to demonstrate that there is any further need for the proposal within the subject site”.

Hamilton Mews Pty Ltd was contacted for comment.

Originally published as Hamilton Mews Aeroglen development rejected by Cairns Regional Council