Bundaberg council votes against higher buildings at Bargara

Local residents of the peaceful Queensland community of Bargara have taken the win after the Bundaberg council narrowly defeated a push to let developers construct buildings as high as six storeys near the beach. But the threat is not over.

The Bundaberg Regional Council Chambers echoed with applause on Tuesday when councillor Greg Barnes made an impassioned address about changes to building heights at Bargara.

More than 60 people made submissions to the council in July ahead of Tuesday’s vote, opposing changes to the planning scheme that would allow high-rises to be built more than three or four storeys.

Just 15 people made submissions in support of the amendment.

If approved by council, developers would have been allowed to exceed these heights in Bargara and the wider Bundaberg region, including Childers and Gin Gin.

Division 5 councillor Greg Barnes told the meeting he did not know where the drive to change Bargara had come from.

“The first question I’ve got to ask is, why,” Mr Barnes began.

“Since 2016 in this council, there’s been a flurry of activity to change the height limits within the township of Bargara.”

Mr Barnes went on to talk about a “nine storey building” which was proposed in 2018, and the outrage from the community was “noted by everybody in this room”.

“I see no need to change anything,” Mr Barnes said.

“People have been coming up here for 20 or 30 years and the reason they come up is the character of the township, it hasn’t been spoiled, it’s relaxing, it’s open, overshadowing isn’t an issue, and it’s worked.

Councillor for Division 5, Greg Barnes told council that not ‘changing things’ in his division had worked for three decades to bring new visitors to the seaside town, and saw no reason to make changes to building heights. Photo: Mike Knott / NewsMail

“Why this flurry of activity to change things? It was working before, the community accepted it, we had good developers come on board who kept the character of the township, and we did everything possible to prevent or to address environment issues in relation to the turtles.

“I just can’t understand what on earth is driving this,” he said.

“So, council I ask you to respect the character of the seaside township, respect the use of the community there, but in yourselves, you know the people of Bargara and around do not want it to be open slather.

“Respect what has worked in the past.”

The floor erupted with applause from advocates attending the meeting.

Councillor Wayne Honor received the same reception from residents after he addressed council about his concerns for the sea turtle nesting population.

“My concern is that around the ongoing turtle protection, there is no science that we can actually hang our hat on and say ‘this is a benchmark in preservation of a world-considered rare and vulnerable animal’,” Mr Honor said.

Bargara residents on the foreshore. More than 60 people made submissions to the council in July ahead of Tuesday’s vote, opposing changes to the planning scheme that would allow high-rises to be built more than three or four storeys.

“It’s important, I believe, we have in any planning scheme a trigger that requires a developer to do the science around the building heights that are going to be proposed in the future of Bargara.

“We don’t know what the effects on the turtles will be, unless there is proper scientific research done, until there is a benchmark put in place.

“To raise building heights means we have a beacon of a city way above the natural height of what we would expect, and it shows concern by the community in this submission.

“How does the turtle know how this will effects their honing in on their traditional breeding areas?

“We don’t know if they take light into consideration; if they look into the horizon and sunsets or the moon, or the land formations.

“That needs to be established, otherwise we lose a vulnerable species forever.”

Councillor McPhee also spoke out about the building heights, saying she supported development in the region, but “wasn’t confident” that the potential changes were fully understood by the community.

Councillor Wayne Honor argued that there were not enough scientific studies to support the long term impacts new development on the coast would have on the region’s visiting turtles, an activity which also helps drive the tourism economy.
Pictured: A loggerhead turtle laying eggs in the sand dunes at Mon Repos near Bundaberg. Picture by Luke Marsden.

“I can’t support the recommendation as it stands,” Ms McPhee said.

Councillors voted 6-5 against amendments to the planning scheme.

Former planner George Martin said that while this vote wouldn’t affect the golf club development and possible future developments, he was overjoyed by the vote to oppose the changes.

“I’m really heartened that the community has been heard; where to next is the challenge, but this is the first step and it’s been a long time to get to this point,” Mr Martin said.

“My major concern is still the proposal of the golf club, particularly the Esplanade one is too high in my opinion, for the setting.

“The amendment to the planning scheme will not impact how council deals with that development application, but I think the good thing is that the councillors are aware that there are concerns, and they are genuine concerns, and concerns relate to not just sea turtle nesting, but also to the congestion, liveability and amenity of Bargara.”