Real estate icon’s latest ruffles feathers in ritzy Brisbane street
Real estate doyen Nanette Lilley says a childcare centre planned for her old headquarters will honour her legacy. But some neighbours fear its impact on one of Brisbane’s loveliest suburbs.
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Retired westside real estate icon Nanette Lilley’s latest sale, the Graceville offices where she ran her business for many years, has stirred up emotions in the up-market suburb.
A local developer has submitted plans for a 135-place childcare centre, food and drink outlet and shop which some residents fear will worsen already heavy traffic and street parking problems.
Local Councillor, Nicole Jonston, also expressed concerns.
“Redevelopment of the former Nanette Lilley site is welcome, but extending the commercial footprint into a quiet, character residential neighbourhood will cause a range of adverse impacts for residents in the street,’’ Cr Johnston said.
“Given the high number of retail and commercial vacancies in the district it also seems unnecessary.
“It’s important that residents speak up and make a submission to Council outlining their concerns.’’
But Ms Lilley, a pioneer in the industry and respected property identity who has written a book on nearby Laurel Ave, said the designs she had seen were “beautiful’’.
“My husband Angus said before he died that he wanted the site to be tastefully done to honour the 35 years of my service to real estate in the area. I am sure that he would approve,” she said.
The developer, who did not wish to be named, said and another local family who had bought the property, spent eight months on design work to ensure the project would do justice to the gracious suburb.
“The design approach intends to activate Honour Ave, provide respectful interfaces
and contribute to strong local need,’’ he said.
Ms Lilley had a contract on her offices and three adjoining houses for several years, until March, when she put the properties back on the market.
“We were very happy when a local developer who lives on (nearby) Laurel Ave and understands the area bought it,’’ Ms Lilley said.
“My son always wanted there to be something attractive that would be in keeping with the suburb.
“I’ve seen the drawings. It’s a very nice design.’’
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A development application lodged on September 7 said there would be landscaping on 1085 sqm of the 2439 sqm site, at 293 Honour Ave, 92 and 98 Verney Rd West and 4 Mortlake Rd.
It included 393 sqm of “deep planting (large trees) on the western boundary to shield two neighbouring houses, plus an acoustic fence. Play areas would be sited away from that boundary.
The DA said the design included corrugated iron gable roofs, timber, battens and “veranda-like forms’’ to break up its visual impact, plus awnings on Honour Ave and Verney Rd West.
The developer said one of the two immediate neighbours had told him he was happy with the childcare proposal and thought it was a great improvement on the plans drawn up by the previous developer.
But neighbours Teena Glassick and her husband Matt Davies, who have set up Facebook page Stop Honour Ave Childcare Centre, said it would worsen traffic in an area plagued by rat runners.
Ms Glassick said it was already difficult to find street parks as the site was only about 80m from Graceville train station.
“There are significant traffic flow issues on Honour Ave in peak hours without the addition of a 135-place childcare centre,’’ she said.
“Verney Rd West is a narrow and congested road at the Honour Ave end due to commuter and retail parking.
“This will be exacerbated significantly particularly during peak drop-off and pick-up hours, with the proposed entry point to the centre located on Verney Rd West.’’
She said they had no idea a childcare centre was an option when Ms Lilley showed them the Queenslander which they bought in 2018.
The sale was later finalised by Ray White, after Ms Lilley retired and her business was merged with Ray White.
“We did our due diligence. Because the houses next door are in a character zone we assumed they would have to remain as houses (in some form),’’ Ms Glassick said.
“If the development goes ahead, my family will be (living in) an adjoining property due to the demolition of the two residential properties alongside us on Verney Rd West.’’
Graceville Skies Pty Ltd has applied for a material change of use for the houses.
It’s DA said the food and drink outlet and office would be sited on the Nanette Lilley headquarters, well away from Ms Glassick’s home and her next door neighbour.
RECENT CHILDCARE/KINDERGARTEN APPROVALS IN THE AREA
Council has recently approved numerous childcare centres along the Oxley Rd corridor in recent months and years including:
834 Oxley Rd Corinda - 90 places
4 Bute St Sherwood - 115 places
10 Thallon St, Sherwood - 40 places
9-11 Donaldson St, Corinda - 92 places
724-728 Oxley Rd, Corinda - 101 places
336 Cliveden Ave, Corinda - 74 places
Pending approvals include:
St Matthew’s Church Hall (pre-lodgement) within an existing community facilities centre
Other existing nearby centres:
Three established childcare care centres in Graceville and two in Sherwood offering hundreds of places
Six kindergartens in Chelmer, Graceville and Sherwood, with several now offering after Kindy Care next year, offering hundreds of places
A “needs assessment’’ concluded there was an under-supply of childcare places in the area, but Ms Glassick said a large number of new childcare centres had been built in surrounding suburbs in recent years which had current vacancies.
“This development will cause an oversupply of places. The centre does not service a local need and it is likely that the centre services will attract families from outside of the suburb catchment, causing further traffic issues to an already congested network,’’ she said.
For more details of the project visit Council’s online development application portal, pdonline, and search for application number A005541414