Redland Bay residents riled at ‘crammed’ together housing at former banana plantation
No kerb, no footpath, plenty of power cables - a new southeast Queensland development graced with water views has won little favour with locals desperate to protect a region’s quaint legacy.
Redlands Coast
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A new housing development on prime real estate in Redland Bay has drawn the ire of residents with some questioning why houses “crammed together” with no footpath or even a kerb, should be the region’s legacy.
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Built on a former banana plantation on Broadwater Terrace the lots have been developed by a various companies and draw the eye for their lack of footpath and kerb with a plethora of power cables overhanging the road.
Bizarrely, front lawns lead straight to what is a busy road.
Of particular contention is the proximity of two new structures, one of which has been built by SandSky Developments.
The building offers little room between its neighbour.
A string of social media posts by residents despondent at the questionable construction lament why such a prominent site, enjoying elevated Moreton Bay water views, had not come under closer scrutiny by Redland City Council.
Having lived in Redland Bay for the past seven years Ashley Johns was appalled at development she feels leaves much to be desired for.
“Everything is becoming slapped together and they are just squeezing housing developments in,” Miss Johns said.
“It is becoming a small city with these new homes and it is unsightly.
“It doesn’t have a Queensland feel; it is prime real estate and they would have been better putting some nice restaurants there as something that the community can enjoy.”
So frustrated by recent developments in the once quaint locale is Miss Johns, she now contemplates moving her young family elsewhere.
“I feel that they are just giving up with these kinds of developments,” she said.
“You just don’t have the same quality of life with them.
“You hear everything your neighbours say and it is a fire hazard, really.
“There is no side access with that property and if one house catches fire … it just seems ridiculous.”
SandSky Developments was contacted for comment and it was clarified that one of the properties was intended for disability housing.
The homeowner from Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) said the property was not built particularly close to its neighbour to accommodate any specific disability needs but was conveniently located to local amenities and would benefit from comprehensive, specialised facilities internally.
“The house has been built in accordance with the council and the National Disability Insurance Scheme so it can qualify as a high-physical support home for the incoming individual.”
According to council the former banana plantation was situated across approximately 32 existing residential lots that were created as part of a historical subdivision estimated to be decades old, leaving little room to have a say on standards.
“Under the Redland City Plan the lots are zoned medium density residential zone, which permits dwelling houses to be built on each individual lot,” a council spokesman said.
“A planning application to council for this is not required, with the housing designs being assessed and permissible under the requirements of the Queensland Development Code (QDC), which provides a building standards framework specific to Queensland.
“As these lots are part of a historical subdivision, there would have been no requirements at the time of subdivision to provide for public footpaths.
“However, council’s infrastructure plan identifies public footpaths for the area in the near future.
“As each dwelling house is accepted development, there are no planning applications to be displayed online.
“The lots are owned by multiple property owners but council understands that, historically, they were owned by one family.”
All of which has left residents frustrated at what some see as a blight on the area; a sentiment Federal MP and representative for Bowman Andrew Laming backed.
Mr Laming said he would pull no punches for what was a clearly substandard outcome which he did not want as a legacy for Redland Bay.
“The best thing we can do is to have a system to have the best possible outcome,” he said.
“The current system completely failed the Redlands and it is no fault of the council.
“In the absence of a solution people can avoid the planning and development process because they have an “as of right” to develop and we need a different approach.
“We need to bring council and developers together for a conversation where concessions are granted.
“So that council can say to developers ‘how can we help you with an amenable streetscape, underground power and an amenity outcome fit for the 21st century?’
“Residents would hope that a sensible council and developer of reasonable mind could work together for such an outcome through negotiation.
“And this may very well cost some money on behalf of ratepayers.”