Planning chair Cameron Caldwell speaks in favour as Main Beach high rise is approved at Gold Coast City Council meeting

COUNCIL has approved a controversial Main Beach tower after a debate this afternoon which heard it was “far from the most obscene.” But the vote revealed councillors were split on the issue

COUNCIL has approved a 20-level tower proposed for Main Beach despite councillors being divided about the controversial project.

Those councillors who voted against the project were Gary Baildon, Peter Young, Dawn Crichlow, Paul Taylor and Daphne McDonald.

Mayor Tom Tate voted for the development after council planning chair Cameron Caldwell and Robina-based councillor Hermann Vorster spoke in favour.

Others supporting were Bob La Castra, Pauline Young, Gail O’Neill, Glenn Tozer, Kristyn Boulton and William Owen-Jones.

Deputy Mayor Donna Gates did not vote, having been absent from the room after making a declaration about donations.

Councillor Caldwell spoke in favour of the building even though he does not like its size or design. He said he was recently engaged at Main Beach and was a member of the surf club.

“I don’t want to see anything that doesn’t enhance our lifestyle,” he said as debate started on the development application.

“(But) the highrise nature of Main Beach is something that escaped many, many years ago.

The proposed high rise development at Main Beach.

“Twenty storeys is far from the highest and most obscene high rise that has been constructed there.”

Given the unlimited height limit in the area, the application was not contrary to the City Plan, he said.

Area councillor Gary Baildon spoke strongly against the project before the council went into closed session.

“Main Beach’s unique character ... would be conflicted,” Cr Baildon said.

To approve the application would erode the fabric of the City Plan, he said.

Cr Baildon said the 20-level tower would increase the medium density of the area by more than 3.5 times.

He urged councillors to consider allowing a light rail urban renewal map to overrule all the other factors.

SUBSCRIBE TO THE BULLETIN AND GET A FITBIT

Cr Baildon warned there would be a “knock-on” impact for other coastal suburbs south of the Glitter Strip.

“Hopefully council doesn’t shoot itself in the foot,” he said.

A majority of councillors at an earlier planning committee meeting had ticked off on an officer’s recommendation to approve the development on a slender 1261 sqm block in Main Beach.

Only area councillor Gary Baildon and hinterland councillor Peter Young, who was concerned about the high rise building in a medium density zone, spoke then against the development.

Councillors in the past 48 hours were lobbied by residents and community groups to oppose the application.

Councillor Gary Baildon is opposed to the development. Photo: Jerad Williams

The public gallery was full, mainly with residents from Main Beach.

GECKO environment council campaign director Lois Levy in her email to all councillors, had urged them not to use the proximity of light rail to the development as an excuse to allow development to exceed City Plan requirements.

“The purpose of light rail and its relationship to development is obviously to encourage development along the light rail strip to make it economically viable, but this does not mean that ‘anything goes’ as to the form of development,” she wrote.

The Bulletin in a special report had revealed how a “light rail renewal map” was being considered as a more importance influence in planning decisions than a density map.

Properties within 750m walk of the Main Beach light rail station could be tripled in size due to the tram map.

Ms Levy provided a copy of the overlay code which showed it was designed to “help development contribute to strengthening communities’ local character”.

She said the code maintained that development should “respect and complement the scale, character, form and setting of on-site and adjacent properties”.

“Gecko trusts that you will take the time to consider these matters prior to the vote on this application at full council,” she wrote.