Community action group celebrates its first win but there are more battles to come

A community action group has claimed its first victory after a developer withdrew plans to build a 44-metre-high residential tower on a suburban southeast Queensland street – but residents say another battle is just beginning.

Plans to build a 44m tall tower with views over Moreton Bay have been withdrawn following backlash from residents.

The Woody Point Action Group hopes it is the first of many wins in its campaign against “inappropriate” high-rise towers.

Sam Hanna & Co Pty Ltd lodged the application with Moreton Bay Regional Council in January.

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Derek Catterall and Julia Nuske pose for a photograph at the development site bounded by Kate Street, Lila Street, and Gayundah Esplanade in Woody Point. PHOTO: AAP/Richard Walker

The developer already has permission to build a 31.8m tall tower with 11 units at 1 Lila St, Woody Point.

After the council approved a 44m unit developer across the road at Gayundah Esplanade at the end of 2019, the developer lodged a further application seeking permission to increase the height to 44m – allowing for 15 units.

Both developments are more than double the height recommended in the Moreton Bay Regional Council Planning Scheme.

The Woody Point Action Group, who were against the Gayundah Esplanade development, took issue with this new application – starting a new petition.

WPAG president Derek Catterall said more than 120 residents had written to Moreton Bay Regional Council objecting to the excessive increase in height on the relatively small 753sq m unstable cliff headland above the Gayundah shipwreck.

Concept image for proposed unit development at 1 Lila St, Woody Point.

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“The excessive height limit would have grossly exceeded the existing township plan of 2016, thereby dramatically changing the neighbourhood amenity and skyline profile as well as increasing traffic,” he said.

“Council had already conceded that the application was inconsistent with the scale and density of current development in the area.”

The action group has lodged an appeal against the 44m development, approved by council, at Gayundah Esplanade.

Traders in Purple plan to build a 44m tall unit complex at this site at Gayundah Esplanade in Woody Point. PHOTO: AAP /Richard Walker

The matter is currently before the Planning and Environment Court.

Woody Point Action Group have also lodged a petition urging Moreton Bay Regional Council to reject requests to extend the currency periods on two development applications.

This includes the development at Gayundah Esplanade and a second at 14-18 Alfred St.

Two petitions one with 74 signatures and the other with 62 were lodged with council last week.

The petitions were tabled for further investigation by Councillor Karl Winchester (Div 6) at Wednesday’s council meeting.

Mr Catterall said both DAs were classic examples of why Woody Point urgently needed a neighbourhood plan.