Palm Beach tower: Development described as ‘recipe for disaster’ heads to court over conditions

Developers of a tower once described as a “recipe for disaster” are fighting strict building conditions enforced by the council claiming the restrictions are “unreasonable”.

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DEVELOPERS of a tower once described as a “recipe for disaster” are fighting strict building conditions enforced by the council claiming the restrictions are “unreasonable”.

Grassy Knoll Projects has headed the Planning and Environment Court after the Gold Coast City Council gave conditional approval for their planned 80 unit tower on Mawarra Street, Palm Beach.

The conditions the council demanded when giving approval earlier this month include reducing the number of units from 80 to 72, changing the neighbouring unit plans so it has a maximum of three bedrooms, making some parking bay fixed planters for shrubs and providing 104 car spaces.

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Other conditions the developer wants scrapped are to place a solid screening in from the roof to ground in the car park, creation of a water easement and a loading area for a small truck or bus.

In documents filed last week, Grassy Knoll projects claimed the application complied with “all relevant assessment benchmarks”.

“The imposition of each of the conditions is unreasonable,” the documents said.

“The imposition of each of the conditions is not relevant to or reasonably required in respect of the development or use of premises as a consequence of the development.”

Grassy Knoll Projects is asking for those conditions to be removed from the approval.

The nine-storey development is set to replace a 1960s-era unit block and includes a pool, cinema and games room.

When it was originally put forward in January division 13 councillor Daphne McDonald said she held concerns about the density as it was three times that allowed in the city plan.

“When you are looking at a development going to two or three times the density allowed under the town plan, it impacts on the narrow streets nearby, given it is close to the high-density Sunland site and a nearby school,” she said.

“This could be a recipe for disaster.”

On Monday, Cr McDonald declined to comment as the matter was before the courts.

The appeal is expected to be heard early in the new year.

Development of high rises in the Palm Beach area has met opposition from the public in recent months due to fears about increased density.

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Originally published as Palm Beach tower: Development described as ‘recipe for disaster’ heads to court over conditions