Big win for residents fighting riverfront high-rise

A CONTROVERSIAL high-rise project slated for an up-market Brisbane riverfront street has been knocked back by the Council.

Irma Muller, one of the residents opposed to the 160 Macquarie St, St Lucia, high-rise. Picture: AAP/Richard Walker

• highrise keeps getting higher
• residents feared Council had given up

A CONTROVERSIAL high-rise project slated for an up-market Brisbane riverfront street has been knocked back by the Council.

City Planning chairman, Councillor Julian Simmonds, this morning announced that plans for the 73-unit high-rise development at 160 Macquarie St, St Lucia, had been refused.

Cr Simmonds said the Council was not satisfied an ancient, huge fig tree at the front of the property would not be harmed by plans to dig a six-level underground carpark.

160 Macquarie St, St Lucia. Picture: AAP/Richard Walker

It was also not satisfied residents’ concerns about traffic had been adequately addressed by the developer.

“I conveyed to Council’s assessment team the strong community feedback about this application,’’ he said.

“Ultimately, the developer could not satisfy community concerns that the significant tree on site would be adequately protected, or that the impacts caused by the proposal would be appropriately mitigated.

Cr Julian Simmonds. Picture: Tara Croser

“I want to thank all local residents for their patience as this application was assessed.”

Comment is being sought from the developer. It is note known if they will appeal.

Macquarie St spokeswoman, Professor Carole Ferrier, said residents were delighted but would press ahead with a change.org petition which was put up online this morning.

“An appeal could be likely so a petition would give an idea of the number of people concerned about this project,’’ Prof Ferrier said.

“We think the only reasonable solution now is for some small townhouses, raised above the flood level.

“But I suppose that’s the next question, what will the developer do with the site now?’’

The project has also attracted strong opposition from state Greens MP for Maiwar, Michael Berkman, and Opposition City Planning spokesman, Jared Cassidy (Deagon).

They, and residents, were particularly upset that the proposal had grown in height and scale over the past five years as a string of developers lodged applications for the site.

It went from 23 units originally to 73 units but because of planning law changes, residents were allowed to object to the small, initial project but not later and much larger versions.