Community wants revote after developer locks Peregian Springs club gates

A cancer survivor and a widow are among several calling for a revote after a body corp decision led to a developer locking the gates on a Sunshine Coast community club.

Community members are “in grief” and considering moving away after a developer locked the doors to a Peregian Springs recreation club following a body corporate vote on taking ownership of the area.

Some homeowners in the Ridges estate want Aveo to come back to the negotiation table with new transfer of ownership terms so they can revote.

An Aveo spokeswoman said in the existing 10-year agreement, Aveo could transfer the recreation club to the body corporate as long as all subsidiaries agreed and at Aveo’s discretion.

There are seven subsidiary body corporates in the Ridges estate and one representative from each of the subsidiary bodies makes up the principal body corporate which voted on taking ownership of the club.

Principal body corporate chairman Roger Cook said the offer from Aveo was to give the body corporate the entire recreational lot that included the tennis court, the pool, the club and car parks.

The swimming pool at the Ridges recreation club in Peregian Springs.

Mr Cook said Aveo would take revenue from the commercial entities on the property, like the cafe, for 30 years while the body corporate was responsible for maintaining the area.

Mr Cook said a lot of information was given to homeowners before the vote on the transfer took place.

“The documents had to detail the legal process in order for the body corporate to acquire the property,” he said.

“It couldn’t be ‘do you want it – yes or no?’”

He said the seven subsidiaries voted.

Six voted yes and one drew its vote, which according to Body Corporate legislation is a no vote.

Following the vote, Aveo locked the gates to the recreation club on September 23, 2022.

Robin Braidwood and his vision-impaired wife moved their family to the Ridges six years ago mostly because of the club.

Mr Braidwood is completely blind and said he was able to walk independently to the gym and it was a wonderful way to start his day.

Robin Braidwood, who is completely blind, said he would consider moving from the Ridges if the recreation club remained closed.

He said having no access to the club was a “huge impact” on his family and he would consider selling if it remained closed.

Homeowner Helen Bremer said she and her husband bought in the Ridges because of the recreation club.

She swam, did aqua aerobics and practised yoga there.

Helen Bremer, Shelley Mulvenna and their swim coach Jacqueline Kulibab are devastated by the closure of the Ridges recreation club.

“A year ago my husband died and I literally wouldn’t have survived without the community,” she said.

Breast cancer survivor Shelley Mulvenna said she was in grief since the closure.

“It’s an integral community hub that is inclusive of everybody,” she said.

Mrs Mulvenna used the facilities following a double mastectomy.

“That physical therapy built strength, helped me emotionally and prevented lymphedema,” she said.

The principal body corporate chairman said the community was looking for a revote but unless there was a new offer from Aveo, they could not revote on the same terms.

“We ask Aveo to come back to the table with a new offer, that’s what we want,” Mr Cook said.

Ridges homeowner and community spokesman Greg Gillies said the terms of the transfer caused a lot of negotiation within the body corporates and many residents were uneducated or unaware of the ramifications of the vote because the negotiations went on so long.

Community spokesman Greg Gillies says homeowners want a revote on the recreation club transfer.

“We are waiting patiently to understand what the next steps are with the developer,” he said.

An Aveo spokeswoman said the developer had worked collaboratively with the body corporate to develop a proposal where the recreational facility would become common property of the body corporate.

“The body corporate advised Aveo on September 23 that their vote on this motion was not passed unanimously, as required by the Body Corporate Community Management Act, and the recreational facility will not become part of the common property,” she said.

“Given the outcome of this vote, Aveo is now considering the options available in respect of the recreational facility.

“The body corporate required a recreational facility agreement to access the facility and this agreement expired as a result of the ‘no’ vote.

“Therefore, the facility has been closed while Aveo determines next steps.

“The on-site cafe, The Pool Cafe, remains open.”