Council approves controversial Bongaree unit development

Council has approved a controversial unit development in a popular coastal area north of Brisbane. Has the battle been lost and what can residents do now?

Bribie Island residents submitted hundreds of objections to Council about the original development plan for 233 Welsby Pde, Bongaree. Photo. supplied.

A Moreton Bay Regional Council Delegated Decision Committee voted on Tuesday to approve a controversial Bribie Island unit development.

The DDC voted, 4-1, to approve the development application for 233 Welsby Pde, Bongaree.

The meeting, convened by Acting Mayor Mike Charlton included Crs Brooke Savige, Denise Sims, Darren Grimwade and Matthew Constance.

Councillor Brooke Savige (Division 1), who voted against the DA, said “I know there will be sections of the community who will be disappointed with the decision” but acknowledged the developer had made significant changes to the final DA in response to community feedback.

“What was evident (from the meeting today) was there is the potential for some work around building heights and what community expects around the Planning Scheme,” Cr Savige said.

“We spoke (today) at length about how density is not just about height or how many people are on the site but how it impacts our surroundings and in this case the density did increase.”

She said currently “there is certainly a disconnect between the Planning Scheme and what community expect and … at the appropriate time Council needs to revisit (the planning scheme) in detail and work with community”.

Acting Mayor Mike Charlton said the original submission was for a 19.76m tall building “which was not consistent with Bribie Island’s 15m height limit”.

“The developer has significantly redesigned this project and submitted a new plan so the building will comply with our planning scheme.”

“An assessment against the provisions of the MBRC Planning Scheme has been completed in detail and as a result the areas of noncompliance are not sufficient to warrant refusal of the application.”

Djakala Investments submitted a development application to build a five-storey unit complex at 233 Welsby Pde, Bongaree. The DA was later reduced to four-storeys. Photo supplied.

During last week’s MRBC General Meeting 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.

The matter was referred to the DDC for a decision.

Residents submitted hundreds of objections and multiple petitions against the original plans for the site.

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.

The approved plan includes a reduction in the proposed height from 19.765m to 15.757m, a reduction in the residential levels 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”.