Bongaree DA decision delayed over perceived conflict of interest

A long-awaited decision on a controversial Bongaree unit development application has been delayed after councillors were unable to vote. See the reason why.

Bongaree residents fear high developments will destroy the “specialness” of the Island. Picture: Leah Lord

A decision on a controversial Bribie Island unit development has been delayed again after six councillors were unable to vote on the matter in Moreton Bay Regional Council’s General Meeting yesterday.

A Council spokesman said the vote on 233 Welsby Pde, Bongaree had been referred to the Delegated Decision Committee (DDC), which will meet next week, after a quorum could not be reached after Crs Mike Charlton, Peter Flannery, James Houghton, Koliana Winchester and Mick Gillam perceived a conflict of interest with a submitter against the development, ex-MBRC councillor Greg Chippendale.

Cr Adam Hain declared an actual conflict of interest and left the meeting due to Cr Chippendale’s support in the 2016 election.

But Cr Gillam said this week “as presented, it (the DA) looks acceptable”.

The new plans for 233 Welsby Pde, Bongaree reduce the height of the building to 4 storeys but increase the site density. Photo. WG Architects.

He said the Town Plan set guidelines for development and “developers can under or exceed those guidelines in their applications”.

“It is up to staff to assess the application in its entirety. In this case the density does exceed what the definition for NGU recommends but the staff have determined the outcome, when looking at all the factors involved, is acceptable.

“Design, setbacks, location, methods to ameliorate impacts are some of the facts considers in the 40 conditions attached to the approval.”

The developer submitted new plans for the site on November 15, 2019 “in response to council correspondence”.

Changes included a reduction in the proposed height from 19.765m to 15.757m, a reduction in the residential levels from five to four and a change in the number of proposed units from 10 to 12 “resulting in the site density increasing from 83 dwelling per hectare to 99 dwelling per hectare”.

Bribie Island residents lodged multiple petitions against the original six-storey foreshore development proposal at 233 Welsby Pde, Bongaree.

Bribie Island resident Jeni Webb said the new plans “will have a significant impact on the adjacent properties, with the obvious ‘bulk’ of the building and added traffic issues up that already finite road access”.

She said the new plans still did not meet the “in place” building restrictions for the whole area.

“How can council even consider making any exceptions to the rule?” she said.

“For example the Noosa Council have a no exception rule to any high rise buildings in the precincts of their council residential area. Why should the Morton Bay Council behave any differently. Rules are rules for the good of all concerned.”

Ms Webb said council needed to “preserve and protect this very fragile and finite Island of ours which through avariciousness we are seeing the slow but insidiously real degradation of our flora and fauna”.

“The “Specialness” of our Island is losing its glow,” she said.

Lyn Rushby said the current application had addressed a few of the original objections but the building still exceeded the height standard and “there is an excluded ‘hidden from view’ structure on the roof that would take the height well above the 15.858m.

“The density has not decreased but has increased from 10 units to 12. The use of Ferguson St has not been addressed. There is no visual integration with the streetscape,” she said.

“I would expect the application to be rejected.”

The DDC will meet on January 28 to discuss the matter.

The developer was contacted for comment but did not respond.

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