Council to decide on Miami homeless tower after 200 residents object
A proposed homeless tower has divided a Gold Coast suburb, with “middle class” residents fearing it will bring crime and cooking smells to the area.
A decision is to be made by councillors on approving a nine-level tower at Miami.
This will be for homeless and emergency accommodation.
What are residents saying?
The City received 200 objections from Miami, Nobby Beach, Mermaid Waters and Burleigh.
Residents say they are “middle class” and fear more crime and property values dropping.
A Kallay Street resident is concerned — this is true — the tower will create a cooking smell.
“The overall impact (by attracting the homeless) could see a realistic decrease of up to 40 per cent in property values and business trade,” another resident wrote.
A Miami bloke said: “You want to build a halfway house in a residential area and don’t sugar coat it. The crime and drugs that you are going go allow is just insane. I guess we have to take council to court and that’d be a good look for you mob.
“I don’t want my neighbourhood to turn into a drug suburb filled with homeless and riffraff.”
A Kiers Rd resident was concerned about the Miami High School being 100 metres away.
“I know this type of housing is desperately needed, (but) this is a totally unsuitable position for this development. Varsity or Robina would be more appropriate,” she said.
A Mermaid Waters resident explained how residents identified themselves as “middle class” and this “lower grade of housing” compromised the current standards in the suburb.
The Kallay St woman wanted to engage planners on her bad cooking smell concerns.
“How do these low socio-economic people afford to buy takeaway food. Is there going to be the smell of constant cooking drifting through the neighbourhood,” she asked officers.
Only two submissions were in support, one from Varsity Lakes — no mention of cooking.
“My grounds (for support) are it looks like the more housing supply in the right area, easy access to regular public transport and other amenities,” the resident wrote.
“The Gold Coast is facing a housing affordability crisis, and we need many more high quality developments like this to ease it.”
Councillor Nick Marshall, who supports welfare measures, at committee gained support from councillors for a refusal, having argued on the grounds of height and density.
Next Tuesday, at full council, that vote could be reversed.
A refusal could spark an appeal.
From reporting regularly on planning committee meetings, this much is known.
A decision will not be made on the impact of cooking smells on the Miami neighbourhood, or how “middle class” property values will be impacted.
A decision will not be made on the unit residents due to their homeless status — but it should be mentioned, some might be women living in their cars escaping domestic violence.
A City source says a decision will be made on building height, traffic and carparking.
“This does the raise the issue of where do you house people in social need,” the source said.
That answer is everywhere on the Coast — in each and every suburb — even more so when you can find a location close to the services those people need.
On the road again
Expect finally, some positive news next week on fixing our traffic gridlock.
Mayor Tom Tate and Deputy Mayor Mark Hammel had special private briefing with
Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg a week ago in Brisbane at state parliament.
“There were ten people in the room. The Premier dropped in, I think we will see a pretty heavy program of works rolled out before the Olympics,” my City insider said.
Due process
At least two pollies face a challenging start to next year.
While the official process is being reformed to reduce minor conduct breaches, there remains several ongoing historic investigations into complaints against councillors.
“There are outstanding complaints being finalised by the authorities. That will be determined in the first six months of next year,” a council source said.
Tough talk
Titans fans are being invited to a serious locker room talk and asked to speak up.
Club owner Rebecca Frizelle, chief executive Steve Mitchell, and director of football Scott Sattler along with new coach Josh Hannay and NRLW head coach Karyn Murphy will at CBUS Stadium next Tuesday for a members’ forum.
“Expect honest conversations, and a first look at the strategy driving both our on field performance and the club’s broader growth in 2026 and beyond,” members were told.
Tough slog
The Gold Coast’s top bureaucrat Tim Baker has had one of his toughest weeks.
The City chief executive entered the Nerang Bicentennial Hall just before 6pm on Wednesday, aware Thursday’s paper would have a “splash” on his and Mayor Tom Tate’s overseas travel.
In what was a Travis Head-style performance, he won over Nerang residents, talking up their suburb and plans to redevelop the old administration centre site with a community centre.
When Councillor Peter Young was asked about transparency, Mr Baker padded up, saying: “There’s no councillor on council who is more committed to transparency than Peter.”
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Originally published as Council to decide on Miami homeless tower after 200 residents object
