City Plan report: light rail shock with Palm Beach findings

The light rail to Palm Beach has suffered a major blow following the unveiling of the City Plan report this morning.

THE vast majority residents who provided feedback to the council on City Plan changes were opposed to light rail heading south through Palm Beach.

Councillors at a planning committee meeting today at the Evandale chamber are discussing a 999-page report from officers from the city-wide consultation.

The Bulletin can reveal council received 339 submission points relating to a light rail overlay code – a map which shows the impact of the trams heading south to the airport.

Of those submission points, only 2.7 per cent provided support or support in part while 88 per cent were opposed.

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Palm Beach development. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

The report noted “the number of objections has been influenced by a pro forma submission point about general objections to the light rail extension to Palm Beach”.

Regarding Palm Beach, the report said there was “concern that light rail extension will lead to undesirable intensification of built form”.

Other concerns were light rail leading to relaxation on building heights, setbacks, car parking and communal open space.

The council received 2166 submission points on building height, and of those, 41 per cent were opposed. Only 38 per cent gave support or support in part.

Opposition to high rise mostly related to Palm Beach and Marine Parade at Currumbin.

Of the 1203 overall submissions, residents made 14,399 points where 30 per cent of residents spoke in favour of the changes. About 29 per cent were opposed, and 41 per cent were “not clear” about the changes.

The protest by residents in targeted growth areas (TGA) of Labrador, Southport and Biggera Waters had scored a huge win for them in the planned City Plan changes.

In terms of submissions in the TGA, only 53 supported height and density increases with 327 opposed.

Council officers today at a planning committee meeting presented a 1000 page report which responded to those submissions.

In Biggera Waters, where there was supposed to be an 18.8 per cent increase in planned dwellings, that number has been decreased by 11.9 per cent.

In Labrador, a 19.7 per cent increase in dwellings was planned. There will be a seven per cent decrease.

In Southport West, there was to be a 17.9 per cent increase in planned dwellings. The consultation will see a six per cent decrease.

The report suggests the decreases will amount to a loss of about 3000 dwellings.

Given the reduction, councillors acknowledge the city was no longer going to meet its Shaping SEQ regional plan targets.

The challenge faced by councillors will be to find other areas on the Coast to target for increased population.

The meeting is continuing at City Hall.