How people power stopped proposed Emu Park high-rise development, for now

“I was elected by the people, for the people, to speak for the people, to speak out, to give them a voice”: One councillor made their view very clear in opposing a development application for a six-storey Emu Park Apartments project at the Capricorn Coast. Full details here.

Livingstone Shire councillor Andrea Friend made it clear she was speaking “for the people” of the community when she opposed plans for a new six-storey unit complex at Emu Park this week.

Cr Friend was one of four councillors to vote against a development application for the Emu Park Apartments project - the brainchild of local businessman and developer Rob Carr - which ultimately saw it blocked, for now.

As was indicated at Tuesday’s council meeting with Mr Carr present, he has the option of taking the matter to a planning court if he wishes to go down that path.

When this publication read through all of the submissions received by Livingstone Shire Council during the public consultation process, it counted 176 objections to Mr Carr’s proposal and 10 in favour of it.

Ahead of councillors making their decisions on Tuesday, Cr Friend made her position for voting against the approval of the development application very clear.

Cr Andrea Friend.

“The reason being, in 2016 there was an immense community consultation in relation to the new planning scheme,” Cr Friend explained.

“It covered so many areas and there were meetings by Emu Park residents who specifically said that they wanted to keep the village feel - four storeys.

“Now regardless of what I believe is a good idea or not, myself Andrea Friend personally, I was elected by the people, for the people, to speak for the people, to speak out, to give them a voice.

“And the voices I’ve heard very strongly within this, is the fact that they wouldn’t actually mind if it was four storeys - that would be great, they’d love it.

“But they were adamant that they do not want anything higher at this stage.”

Cr Nigel Hutton.

Cr Nigel Hutton was another to speak against approving the development application before the council.

“Livingstone is a shire of unique communities - each with their own character and aspirations,” he said.

“Our shire is growing, we know there is a need for more housing, there’s a need for more economic opportunity in terms of jobs.

“And we know that our wants and needs as a community are changing.

“Emu Park wants a high school. Emu Park would love to have better access to medical services and we know to achieve that we need to talk about density and we need to talk about population.

“And that’s not something that, in having read all of the submissions, that anyone denies.”

Cr Hutton went on to talk about how Livingstone’s town plan “provides a challenge”.

“It says that Emu Park identifies... as a local centre,” he said.

“Now a local centre has characteristics that are very different to what we’d expect in a major centre.

“Undoubtedly it’s about height, undoubtedly it’s about traffic volumes, and it’s also about the built form that it would take.

“When people view our town plan, and very strongly in each and every one of the submissions, some people spoke about the specific height but almost to the letter, every submission spoke about character and integrity of the village feel of that community.

“And we know that, to protect that while growing, is going to be a challenge.

“The proposal that is before us is transformational and undoubtedly if it was being put forward for Yeppoon there would be no-one in the community who would say ‘oh, that doesn’t belong’. It would fit without question.

“But when we look at it in terms of the character of the site, when we look at it in terms of what does the community of Emu Park expect, it doesn’t meet that expectation.”

Cr Adam Belot.

Cr Adam Belot said the reason why he supported the recommendation from officers to approve the development application was he believed “the time has come”.

“For progress to support our population growth,” he said.

“We’ve invested heavily in Emu Park in many areas - we’ve got a beautiful art gallery down there, cost approximately $1 million.

“We’ve got the Harvey Street complex, which is, I think well over $4 million which supports terrific sporting activity, except it comes at a high cost.

“We’ve got fantastic upgrades to our parks and gardens that we’ve seen across the road in Kerr Park - absolutely beautiful.

“I believe that this development actually supports that in a way that it’s still nothing like the Gold Coast.

“Actually nothing like the Gold Coast, and I lived at the Gold Coast for quite a few years. And I go back there now and I think, my goodness, who would want to see our little towns change like that.

“But it’s a progression of development I think actually complements Emu Park.”

The development proposed for the corner of Pattison, Granville and Archer Streets, Emu Park. Pictured (inset) is the public notification sign.

Cr Belot continued by saying “beauty is in the eye of the beholder”.

“Some may look at six storeys and think it’s absolutely hideous,” he said.

“Others may look at it and not give it a second glance - they’re too busy running their businesses, raising their families, getting on the flight, but I respect the objections that have been put forward, I truly do.”