Judge to deliver decision on 45m Woody Point unit tower within weeks
It was once home to the Palace Hotel – the pub where the Bee Gees played their first paid gig. What it becomes next rests in the hands of a Planning and Environment Court judge.
Moreton
Don't miss out on the headlines from Moreton. Followed categories will be added to My News.
For more than a year a group of Woody Point residents have been battling to topple a developer’s plan to build a 45m tall tower in their suburb – now the decision rests with a judge.
Traders in Purple hope to build the 15-storey unit complex at Gayundah Esplanade, on the site of the former Palace Hotel – where the Bee Gees played their first paid gig.
The development proposed would include 158 units and 13 two-bedroom townhouses – most with views over Moreton Bay.
Traders in Purple already have permission to build a nine and 10 storey tower, with a total of 147 apartments and a restaurant at the site.
They lodged the application to change this plan in May 2019.
Moreton Bay Regional Council approved the new application late last year despite the development being more than double the height recommended in the planning scheme and 145 residents lodging objections to the proposal.
WPAG president Derek Catterall said it “really has been a David and Goliath” battle.
The group have been forced to dig into their own savings to hire a lawyer and town planner and to cover the court costs.
“We have been faced with the might of the Council and a wealthy developer who have engaged QC’s, supporting barristers/solicitors,” Mr Catterall said.
“They have had numerous experts to rely on, including a town planner, visual amenity specialist and architect to justify their 45m/15 storey building application.
“We have a junior barrister, Dane Jones, who has been assisted by one of our members, Fiona Hendy and one expert, Ian Adams our town planner.
“Our team is doing a great job against a large team of seasoned professionals.
“Although we have been doing all the legal work ourselves over the last six months, employing Dane to represent us in court is proving invaluable in getting our case across to the Judge.”
The three day hearing finished on July 16.
“Our fate is now in the hands of the Judge, who we hope will recognise the importance of saving Woody Point Village from overdevelopment,” Mr Catterall said.
He said a decision was not expected for a few weeks.
A group of residents from a neighbouring suburb – the Newport Action Group, recently celebrated a win.
The group successfully helped convince the council to vote down a six-storey unit development application lodged by Kindred Developments for the Newport Marina.
Kindred Developments appealed the decision, but withdrew the application earlier this month.
The developer is now working on a new application for a vertical boat stacker.