Noosa Council settles court case over two Gabriel Poole-designed The Hastings bungalows
Two Noosa Heads bungalows built with a “fishing village” vibe in the 1980s and connected to one of Queensland’s most celebrated architects are set to make way. Read why.
Sunshine Coast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sunshine Coast. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A community fight to save two Hastings Street bungalows designed by celebrated architect Gabriel Poole is over as the Noosa Council decides to settle a court appeal over the site.
The bungalows will make way for another dwelling.
In October, 2021, the council approved an application to demolish two, three-storey, two-bedroom bungalows and build a four-storey, three-bedroom home at The Hastings, at 30 Hastings St in Noosa Heads.
Council documents showed the original development was approved in 1983 and was made up of 25 two-bedroom bungalows and eight shops.
The council received 16 submissions from other unit owners in the complex seeking Mr Poole’s design be respected and they also raised privacy, amenity, access to sunlight, potential noise from outdoor living areas and design issues.
The council approval was taken to the Planning and Environment Court by six submitters who appealed the decision.
After court mediation, the submitters agreed to settle the case and amended plans came before the council’s planning and environment committee on August 9, 2022.
Architect John Mainwaring worked with Mr Poole to design and build the bungalows in the 1980s.
“I worked on the urban design and Gabriel worked on the carcasses of the buildings,” he said.
The architect said FAI Insurance had owned the land and wanted to exit so the pair worked with Peter Lewis of Ray White on the project.
“It was one of the first group title projects in Queensland,” Mr Mainwaring said.
“They were fairly economical to build, they sold well and FAI was able to extricate themselves out of the site.”
The architect said the design at the time reflected Noosa’s low-key, casual and lightweight style and the bungalows were constructed in the vein of a fishing village.
He said owners could take advantage of a fourth storey allowed under the current town plan.
The architect said the “urban fabric” was constantly changing and the site would maintain its village feel.
Councillor Karen Finzel said Mr Poole was an “iconic” and acclaimed architect and components of the original development had been flown into the site.
“Those designs that were embedded in this shire and wrapped around some of our design principles, are really characteristics and things that this community values and favours,” she said.
Mr Poole died in 2020 and Ms Finzel – who is also on the heritage committee – said if he was still alive he would have led discussions on buildings for the council’s climate response plan.
The council committee voted unanimously to settle the court appeal.
The council adopted the amended development plans at its ordinary meeting on August 18, 2022.
Woman’s terrifying balcony fall over armed drug debt home invasion
A woman has been seriously injured after she was forced to jump from her apartment when two men came to her Sunshine Coast unit, one armed with a rifle, to collect her flatmate’s drug debt.
David Crisafulli declares he will fix the Bruce Hwy
David Crisafulli has declared, responding to a question from a Courier-Mail reader, that if the LNP wins goverment at the October 26 election, he can get the Bruce Hwy fixed.