A multimillion-dollar property undergoing redevelopment on Brisbane’s ritzy Hamilton Hill has angered area residents, who say they have been kept in the dark

Renovations to a $3 million home in one of Brisbane’s leafy suburbs has angered residents, who say it breaches height limits and complain they were never notified before it was approved.

A MULTIMILLION-dollar property undergoing redevelopment on Brisbane’s ritzy Hamilton Hill has managed to raise the hackles of area residents.

Neighbours, including Paul Spottiswood, complain that the addition of a two-tiered extra level exceeds area height limits.

They are also ropeable that they were never notified ahead of time about the proposed changes or given an opportunity to object before a Brisbane City Council planner approved the scheme in early February.

The subject of their ire is an impressive two-storey dwelling on Mullens Street that was designed by the late and highly-regarded architect Robin Gibson.

The four-bedroom home, featuring spectacular views of the river and CBD skyline, dates from the late 90s and was built by then-owner James Sourris, a cinema industry identity and low-profile philanthropist. (Movies must be part of the family DNA as his two sons currently operate theatres in the city centre, New Farm, Red Hill and Yatala.)

Property records show Sourris and his missus offloaded the property for a cool $3.32 million in February and the deal settled last month.

The new owners are Roy and Susan Whittaker, who somehow managed to submit their development application to the BCC in late November.

Mullens Street redevelopment in Hamilton

The couple have the green light to add an extension which will include another bedroom, studio, study, living space and garage area to the existing home, which is perched on a sloping 1249sqm block with two street frontages.

Roy, a director of investment group Ferguson Hyams, said on Friday that he was “not aware of any issues’’ since the project had gone through a town planner and been signed off by the BCC. “It’s all been done correctly through the normal channels,’’ he said.

NO NOTICE NEEDED

Nevertheless, Spottiswood, a retired former Ansett pilot who lives across the street, told us that he lodged a complaint with his council member last week.

He said that plenty of his neighbours were upset they had not been given a chance to comment, including three real estate agents on the street who were surprised no public notice had been placed outside the property.

“This development will have a visual impact on the amenity of properties opposite on Mullens Street and, as a result, may have an economic impact as well,’’ he said.

That could well be so but, as a BCC spin doctor told us, it turns out that the project is “code assessable,’’ meaning that there is no requirement to put up a sign on site or otherwise actively seek public comment. Such notification in low density areas is a rarity these days.

As to the question of height limits, it turns out the redevelopment will narrowly exceed a 9.5m area cap. Something known as “performance outcome’’ gives planners the wriggle room to sign off on minor variations, which is what happened in this case.

But Spottiswood remains adamant that even a minor breach of the height limit should trigger a requirement for public input.

“We thought the limits were there to protect us. Now you’ll have other neighbours saying we should do the same thing so where does it stop?,’’ he asked.

MUSICAL CHAIRS

Junior miners often squeak by on the proverbial smell of an oily rag at the best of times.

But the wildcard of COVID-19 has made survival in the corporate jungle all the more brutal.

For evidence of this, consider Brisbane gas hopeful Comet Ridge, which announced on Friday that it was turning its CFO job into a part-time role. That was enough to prompt existing bean counter Peter Harding-Smith to head for the exits.

Metallica Minerals went further this week, revealing no staff are full time.

Chairman Theo Psaros will now go part-time, while interim CEO Scott Waddell will ditch that job and take on the CFO’s role part-time.

That follows John Haley quitting as CFO but remaining as company secretary.

Sounds like a game of coronavirus-inspired musical chairs!