$18m Tweed Coast Rd, Cabarita development refused before Tweed Council

A controversial Cabarita development has been knocked back in a win for people power but not before some fighting words were exchanged over the long-term look for the ‘lazy little beach village’.

A controversial multimillion Cabarita complex has been knocked back by council, causing some fighting words to be shared in an ultimate win for people power.

Tweed Shire Council met on Thursday afternoon to discuss the suitability of a $18.3m apartment development on Tweed Coast Road.

The four-storey complex, lodged by Brisbane company Urbex, proposed 20 apartments, a basement car park and communal open space on the ground floor with a swimming pool and barbecue facility.

Concept designs for the proposed development at 2 – 6 Tweed Coast Road, Cabarita

The proposal also defied Tweed height limits by coming in at 13.6m, a move that pushed 67 residents to submit letters of opposition.

Although the development had been recommended by council planning officers, it was this community outrage that led Mayor Chris Cherry to place a motion to refuse the development.

“I think as a councillor we often have to deal with issues that are not black and white,” she said.

“We need to try to ensure the developments going out there in our time as councillors are matching what the community have said that they want.

“I think this very much does not.”

Concept designs for the proposed development at 2 – 6 Tweed Coast Road, Cabarita

She welcomed the development to return before council with a reduction to scale and bulk which would better suit the “existing character and future character” of Cabarita.

However, councillor Warren Polglase questioned Ms Cherry’s stance against planning officer advice.

“Here we have a diversity of two opinions; one opinion is made by well-paid, well-educated people who understand planning law,” he said.

“All I’m saying is the opinion put forward by yourself is somewhat erroneous in some areas.”

Mr Polglase went on to say there was “enormous” demand for housing on the Tweed coast, noting back to when the Cabarita Beach Hotel was redeveloped and attracted similar opposition.

“The same sort of attitude was brought forward to say ‘well we want to keep the ambience of a lazy little beach village’,” he said.

“We went through the same process you’re going through now and we approved the hotel to be built which has proved to be a great asset.”

Concept designs for a proposed development at 2 – 6 Tweed Coast Road, Cabarita

Councillor Nola Firth seconded Ms Cherry’s opposition, noting the development was of “considerable concern”.

“It’s a very important proposal I think because it’s the very first one in Cabarita which is going to be four storeys rather than three storeys and it will set a precedent,” she said.

She worried the size of the block with limited greenery would become a “heat bank” for residents.

“Heat is a really important variant here,” she said.

“In fact, death by heat is the higher killer out of those three disasters: fire, flood and heat.

“It’s not about no development at that site, it’s development that’s appropriate to what’s happening to us now.”

The motion was ultimately voted in, with all councillors bar Mr Polglase voting for the refusal.