Council approves plan for 15m tall beachfront unit block on Bribie Island

A plan to knock down historic cottages and build a 15-metre tall beachfront island unit complex has been approved – with one condition.

A concept image of the proposed unit development at 13 South Esplanade, Bongaree, on Bribie Island. Image: DA Tracker/Moreton Bay Regional Council

Moreton Bay Regional Council has approved a developer’s plan to build a 15 metre tall unit complex on a popular Bribie Island beachfront – if one condition is met.

An application to transform 13 South Esplanade, Bongaree, into eight, three-bedroom units, across five storeys was lodged with council in October last year.

The block is currently home to some of the first cottages built at Bongaree.

A total of 39 residents lodged objections to the development with council citing concerns with the height, setbacks, impact on amenity and loss of culturally significant homes.

Moreton Bay Regional councillors discussed the matter at length during today’s meeting.

Councillors raised concerns about the density and site coverage of the proposed unit being outside the parameters of the planning scheme.

Division 1 Councillor Brook Savige, which covers Bribie Island, said it was just “another example of the planning scheme failing to meeting the expectations of the community”.

Cr Savige said approving developments that don’t meet the planning scheme would have flow-on affects in the future.

All councillors voted in favour of the development but stipulated the developer must redesign the top floor to be just one unit.

This condition means the development now meets the planning scheme’s density and site coverage regulations.

This historic cottage at 13 South Esplanade Bongaree will be demolished if Moreton Bay Regional Council approves a plan to build a 15m tall unit complex. Image: Google Maps

RESIDENTS NOT HAPPY

Bribie Island Historical Society Inc founding president Barry Clark was one of those who penned an objection.

Mr Clark said if approved some of the original cottages on South Esplanade would be demolished.

“The development of Bongaree began with the building of the jetty in 1912 and South Esplanade was first surveyed for subdivision that year,” Mr Clark wrote.

“One of the cottages being demolished was built and lived in for 30 years by the man who supervised construction of the Bribie Island bridge.”

A concept image of the proposed unit development at 13 South Esplanade, Bongaree, on Bribie Island. Image: DA Tracker/Moreton Bay Regional Council

Mr Clark said Moreton Bay Regional Council’s move to approve a number of controversial developments in recent times affected the Island’s heritage and environment.

“Council’s continued acceptance and destruction of the current and future value of the Island’s unique features is shortsighted,” he wrote.

Bribie Island Environmental Protection Agency also lodged an objection to the proposed unit block.

BIEPA raised concerns about the impact the development would have on nearby Williams Creek and the internationally protected mangroves.

A concept image of the proposed unit development at 13 South Esplanade, Bongaree, on Bribie Island. Image: DA Tracker/Moreton Bay Regional Council

Despite the objections and multiple petitions Moreton Bay Regional council officers recommended the development be approved by councillors at Wednesday’s meeting.

Council officers, in the report which will be presented to council, stated the “scale of the development will be significantly greater than anything existing in the streetscape”.

“However, the planning scheme does not anticipate development to be consistent with the existing single storey fibro fishing cottages currently located on site and in the surrounds,” the report states.

“The planning scheme clearly supports a medium density outcome 4-6 storeys in height. In this respect, the character of the area is expected to change.”

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