Komune Development sparks war between Coolangatta residents about direction of the border community

COOLANGATTA is facing a line in the sand moment when the border retirement community must make a decision about becoming the next Surfers Paradise or Broadbeach.

The proposed Komune development is dividing locals

COOLANGATTA is facing a line in the sand moment when the border community must make a decision about becoming the next Surfers Paradise or Broadbeach.

Dividing locals is a massive luxury health and hotel complex proposed by the Hotel Komune Group in Marine Parade next to the ageing Tweed Heads-Coolangatta Surf Life Saving Club.

Documents obtained by the Gold Coast Bulletin reveal the project has sparked a planning war after residents predicted the tower would be three times the existing height limit, changing the impact of the tree-lined headland at Greenmount.

“Are you freaking kidding me,” a resident wrote in her objection to council.

Some residents fear the project will make Coolangatta like Surfers

Maria Pilihos asked the council: “Why do we have town plans which set out building heights and design guidelines for developers and they totally ignore them?”

A “larger, louder and more uncontrollable” version of the existing Komune property would only increase the number of drunken patrons spilling out into neighbourhood streets, she said.

But many clients of Komune’s Bali resorts, who live interstate, have written letters of support.

“You’ve just got to let them build this paradise — love, love, love their Bali facility and as an Aussie would LOVE to bring their amazing spaces closer to home, and by our cleaner waters,” wrote Carla Santana, from Prestons in NSW.

Artist impressions of the new project.

Resident leader Don Gordon, from the Lindor Apartments, has put pressure on new councillor Gail O’Neill after sending off a petition signed by more than 200 residents.

Cr O’Neill said she was listening to the views of both sides, had yet to form an opinion and expected the application would be discussed by the council planning committee in late April.

The proposed tower will be a change of pace for Cooly.

The petition warns the council many residents are in “their twilight years having invested their lifesavings in their homes” and fear their quiet lifestyle changing forever.

“I think that council has given the developer an inside run to assist him to gain council approval,” Mr Gordon wrote in a letter to Cr O’Neill.

He questioned the independence of having a council-funded promotion group like Connecting Southern Gold Coast Ltd supporting an application before councillors.

“Traffic and parking are my two concerns. In peak periods to get a park anywhere close to Greenmount Beach is like winning the Casket,” Mr Gordon wrote.

“Parents bringing nippers on a Sunday for training will have to walk from home. Don’t bring your car.”

A report from the Lindor Body Corporate concluded “the overall traffic affect on the area will be horrendous”.

Apart from traffic and noise concerns, the biggest debate about the project involved the impact on Greenmount Hill.

The developers in their application argued that in terms of buildings, “there is no defined typical character of the area”.

“It is neither obtuse nor bulky as the Twin Towns Resort nor is it as wide as the Outrigger Resort or even the Reflections towers,” the developer said.

One of the world’s best beaches — Snapper Rocks, Coolangatta. Pic by Luke Marsden.

“Several appropriate opportunities for development have been missed including Calypso Plaza which occupies a massive site just under one hectare with a four-storey height limit.

“For Coolangatta to maintain its status as a regional centre it must continue to evolve when suitable opportunities are presented,” the developer said.

Hotel Komune group co-owner Tony Cannon said the building had been reduced from 29 levels to 23 and a podium reduced in height after initial feedback from residents.

The developer had been told “in no uncertain terms” by the council that the project had to comply with building laws.

“There is no shadow on the beach at all. The problems that plague the other end of the Gold Coast — we tick all the boxes, it not going to create impact on our site," Mr Cannon said.

“Coolangatta is at capacity. There is nothing really new in accommodation that has come on line in years.”

The Tugun Progress Association is concerned the “wall” of the building across most of the 1740sqm site will impact on the natural landform of Greenmount Hill.

The location for the new Coolangatta resort.

The building exceeds the tallest structure in Marine Parade by six storeys and “skews the epicentre of tall buildings eastwards Greenmount Hill”.

“This is, in our view, unacceptable,” the association said.