Machans Beach residents say development will wreck ‘the vibe’

Plans to divide a 1950s block into four two storey dwellings of 207sq m each has residents of the oldest established Cairns beachside suburb up in arms.

PLANS to divide a 1950s block into four two storey dwellings of 207sq m each have Machans Beach residents riled.

They say it will ruin “the vibe” of the oldest established seaside village, settled in the 1920s by Richard Machan, whose family lived there until 2014.

The owner of the 1079sq m property wants to change the zoning from low density, get rid of the pool, the shed, and large trees, keep the house built in 1950, and build three two-storey townhouses around it.

The Machans Beach property will have three two storey townhouses added to it if a development application before Cairns Regional Council is approved, and Machans Beach residents fear it will set a precedent. Picture: supplied.

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The property, sold for $455,000 last July, is right opposite the much-loved community hall, making matters worse with residents worrying about congestion.

Resident Brian Lane said it would set a precedent for future in-fill development.

“People choose to live in Machans Beach because they love the low key lifestyle, the green spaces, the low volume traffic environment and the general community vibe,” Mr Lane said.

Carol Hall said low density was key.

“There’s almost no unit development here, that is what gives the suburb its community vibe,” she said.

Claire Cording said the development would “detract from the leafy charm of Machans Beach”.

The property is located on a 1079sq m block at 79-81 Tucker St, Machans Beach.

“I don’t want to come across all hippy tree hugger, but is this development really necessary?” she said in her submission to council.

Machans Beach Community Association president William van Bakel said Machans was “fiercely and uniquely proud of its community character, lifestyle and lack of unit development which has impacted adversely on other beach communities”.

He said Machans Beach community lobbied to achieve its low density status years ago.

Geoff Holland said 788sq m of 1079sq m would be non-porous surfaces and the townhouses would cover 270sq m each, leaving no room for children who might live in them to play outdoors.

Machans Beach residents, including Christian Pierce-Lyons, say there are no units/townhouses in their community and they want to keep it that way. Picture: Stewart McLean

A Cairns Regional Council Machans Beach precinct brochure says “new buildings that are out of character or scale with surrounding period buildings, overwhelming, boxy new development, and large areas of impervious surfaces” should be avoided.

The applicant declined to comment except to say the matter was currently before council.

Originally published as Machans Beach residents say development will wreck ‘the vibe’