Tradies’ Beach: Residents fed up after Main Beach becomes a construction zone

The construction of a Main Beach supertower where workers are using a park is sparking complaints to the council about traffic, noise and potential impact on nearby buildings.

THE construction of a Main Beach supertower where workers are using a public park is sparking council complaints about traffic, noise and potential impact on nearby buildings.

The Bulletin has been contacted by residents who have forwarded concerns to area councillor Darren Taylor and the Main Beach Association after work started on the site and at Cable Park for the 38-level Midwater development in Main Beach Parade.

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A resident at the neighbouring Ocean Park Towers, representing more than 70 owners, raised concerns about potential future structural risk to their building.

“We are shocked and alarmed council has continued to give the green light to the developers and their builders to go ahead with the disastrous and obscene development that would be much more at home in Hong Kong,” the resident told Cr Taylor.

“Large-scale excavation and construction is currently occurring on the Midwater site with vibrations being felt throughout our building.”

“Our building is significantly larger at 12 storeys and council has approved the Midwater site for an untenable excavation and seven storeys of carparking below ground level,” the resident wrote.

Another resident at the Amira building reported traffic concerns to the MBA.

“Parking is limited in Cable Street as it is, without a number of car parks being acquired for no other reason than to allow oversized trucks to enter the development site,” the resident said.

“There is also the issue of the trucks driving down the wrong side of the road to get the clearance to turn into the park.”

Councillor Taylor said residents in buildings near a development site should ask the builder to pay and undertake a “dilapidation report” where a check was made on their apartments and common areas.

“It’s to protect themselves. If there’s any damage during construction, you have a report before work starts and after it starts,” he said.

Cr Taylor said developers must submit a traffic management plan which council could monitor.

“If they don’t follow the plan we can go in there and take action,” he said.

MBA leader Sue Donovan said the Midwater project was an example of overdevelopment being allowed in beachside suburbs.

“The MBA is being inundated by questions from angry residents about the long term disruption being caused by construction of the highly controversial Midwater development,” Ms Donovan said.

“This development is of particular concern to the Main Beach community given its location in such proximity to the river, a very busy section of the beach — and of course the historic Cable Park.

Main Beach Association leader Sue Donovan — concerned about impact of construction of super towers throughout the suburb.

“The fact some anonymous council officer has agreed to the developer being able to use an important public monument as their worksite for an undisclosed sum provides the developer with an extraordinary commercial benefit by massively reducing his construction costs.

“At the very least council must reveal what the developer is paying for this enormous benefit and pledge that in future the divisional councillor be fully informed before any deal is agreed to. Council must also ensure that disruption to traffic and parking caused by this development is minimised.”

The project was approved before Mr Taylor became the area councillor. The developer is paying a $300,000 bond for a potential three-year use of the park.