Beachfront nursing home: councillors vote on another Palm Beach apartment tower

More than 100 people raised concerns about parking, but council have today given the green light to a controversial tower development. Here’s why.

GOLD Coast City Council has approved an eight-level tower for high-care nursing home patients on the beachfront at Palm Beach.

Only area councillor Daphne McDonald voted against the development application when it was considered at a full council meeting today.

Councillors were told the application was unique due to its location at the beachfront, height and services, providing treatment for high care residents.

Some councillors at an earlier planning committee meeting had voiced concerns about the lack of car parks for visitors, increased traffic and the carer-patient numbers.

But a majority of councillors at a planning meeting backed an officer’s recommendation to approve the 147-bedroom residential care facility. It will be built by Regis Aged Care Pty Ltd on a 3304sq m site on The Esplanade and Gold Coast Hwy.

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The Palm Beach site of the proposed development.

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An officer’s report said the development underwent changes after the public notification period. The original 11-storey building was reduced to eight levels.

Cr McDonald today spoke on behalf of some of the more than 100 people who raised concerns about car parking.

Residents in 19th Avenue have written to the Bulletin opposing the development because the beachfront structure exceeded the current relevant height standard of 29m for a medium density residential zone.

“There is almost no chance of parking in 19th or 17th Avenues. In addition, ambulances, funeral vehicles, food and laundry delivery vehicles and waste removal vehicles must have clear access and parking for finite periods,” a resident said.

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An artist’s impression of the proposed development.

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Cr McDonald said the proposed 52 spaces did not include an ambulance bay.

“If we continue to allow these number of car spaces in the future, we’re going to have big problems,” she said.

Cr McDonald put forward a motion, in a bid to resolve the car park issue, that only 31 staffers would be allowed on site at any one time.

Robina-based councillor Hermann Vorster said he believed the requirement was unreasonable and “doesn’t do anything to solve the problem”.

Several councillors agreed that council “should not play in that space” and for that reason did not make similar requirements for staffers at child care centres and schools.

How the site looks now.

All councillors voted against the motion apart from Cr McDonald and Councillor Peter Young who abstained.

Cr Pauline Young, who has experience in the health industry, said staff would make parking arrangements for an ambulance out the front of a building before it arrived.