Residents appeal Tarragindi Bowls Club retirement living complex decision

RESIDENTS are taking Brisbane City Council and a national retirment living company to court over the approval of a controversial $80 million complex at a southside bowls club.

RetireAustralia's plan for a retirement complex, which will include an upgraded clubhouse, bowling green and park, at Tarragindi Bowls Club.

RESIDENTS are appealing Brisbane City Council’s approval of a controversial $80 million retirement living complex at the Tarragindi Bowls Club.

Three separate appeals have been lodged with the Planning and Environment Court against the approval of RetireAustralia’s plan to build 94 retirement units over the Tarragindi Bowls Club.

The approved plan includes an upgraded clubhouse, bowling green, cafe, meeting rooms, and park, and has been hailed by the club as a way to save it from collapse.

Appellant Cathy Hume, who entered the appeal with her husband Jeffrey, said it set a precedent for developing on sport and recreation land and taller buildings in low-density areas.

“There is a total loss to the community because we’re losing sport and recreation land and we could have found alternative uses for the community on that site,” she said.

“It’s overwhelming, don’t get me wrong. But as I said, I can’t let this happen without fighting for it.”

Ms Hume said the community would support the cost of the court proceedings.

Anthony Greer and Barry and Judith White have also submitted appeals to the Planning and Environment Court against the development approval.

Keith and Liza Wieland, who is the president of the Tarragindi Residents Alliance, led the charge against the development before it was approved. They are not appellants in any of the appeals. Picture: Jack Tran

Cr Steve Griffiths (Moorooka) said the cost of a court appeal was “a big burden” for residents to bear. He and Federal Labor MP for Moreton, Graham Perrett, would make donations to the appeal.

“It shows the risk and the expense that people feel in relation to being to take Council on, or take Council’s decision on,” he said.

It was the first development approved under the Retirement Living and Aged Care Accommodation Incentives, the Council’s push to address Brisbane’s aged care shortage.

The incentives reduce infrastructure charges, relax height limits for aged care and retirement developments, and encourage them to be co-located on private sport and recreation land.

There were 1800 submissions on the development, with 928 properly made.

The Hume Notice of Appeal says the development does not comply with the Brisbane City Plan or the Holland Park — Tarragindi Neighbourhood Plan.

LNP Councillor, Krista Adams (Holland Park) said in an “ideal scenario”, the club would not be under the financial strain that led them to the agreement with RetireAustralia, but it was legally entitled to propose to redevelop.

She said Tarragindi residents needed aged care and retirement living options so they could stay in the area as they aged.

“The approved plans for Tarragindi Bowls Club are a win for the community, not only for the upgraded sports facilities but also for neighbours. Council stands by its decision,” she said.

Cr Adams also had a message for State ALP MP Mark Bailey and Mr Perrett: “Stop using the important social issue of retirement living and aged care as a political football, for a cheap attack.”

RetireAustralia CEO Alison Quinn said there were “strong legal grounds” to uphold the Brisbane City Council’s approval. Picture: Russell Shakespeare

RetireAustralia CEO, Alison Quinn, said after months of community engagement and working with the Council it believed “a balanced outcome was approved”.

“Brisbane City Council has a robust planning system, where applications outside the City Plan can be made, considered and approved,” she said.

“There are strong legal grounds to uphold a decision that protects the sport and recreation land use for the future through compatible development that preserves and enhances the current use,” she said.

Ms Quinn said the development, valued at $80 million, would also provide long term local jobs once operating as well as cater an aging poulation in the area.