Proposed 24-storey Hotel Komune development at Coolangatta rejected in court

A proposed luxury 24-storey development in the heart of Coolangatta has been spectacularly quashed in court after a judge deemed it ‘not in the public interest’.

The proposed Hotel Komune at Coolangatta, 24 storey building at 140 Marine Parade has been quashed by a District Court Judge.

THE 24-storey Hotel Komune development at Coolangatta has been quashed in the Queensland Planning and Environment Court.

District Court Judge Michael Rackemann found the proposed development was not in the public interest and did not comply with the 2003 and 2016 City Plans.

It was supposed to have 100 five star hotel suites, 94 apartments along with cafes and restaurants looking over Greenmount Beach.

The proposed Hotel Komune at 140 Marine Parade Coolangatta was approved by Gold Coast City Council in April 2017.

The decision was appealed by residents of the neighbouring Lindor Apartments following large protests from residents on Greenmount Beach.

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Protesters gather at Greenmount Beach.

Although the council approved the development it told the Planning and Environment Court in March 2018, it no longer supported the project.

In his decision, Judge Rackemann found the proposed development would diminish the sense of place and take away from the natural beauty of Greenmount Headland.

“Even if the proposal had met the preconditions, the proposed height of 82m would still be 1.4 times what could be achieved even if the bonus provision (50 per cent) was available,” he wrote.

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The proposed Hotel Komune at Coolangatta, 24 storey building at 140 Marine Parade has been quashed by a District Court Judge.

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The proposed development also had almost no setbacks on the ground level, covering 97 per cent of the land.

According to the planning scheme, the applicable site covering for the area were 40 per cent.

Komune’s expert argued in court that the precinct two zoning, which has smaller development guidelines, would eventually be increased as Coolangatta became more popular for tourists.

However, Judge Rackeman said out of the southern suburbs Coolangatta was growing the least.

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“I do not consider that there are sufficient grounds to justify approval notwithstanding the conflict with the 2003 Planning Scheme and I consider that the 2016 Planning Scheme, with which there is also significant conflict, should be given substantial weight,” the judge wrote in his decision.

“The appeal is allowed and the development application is refused.”

Komune and the head of the Lindor Community Title Trust have been contacted for comment.