Residents warned that Labrador will follow Palm Beach and become the Gold Coast’s next high rise suburb

Residents of a Gold Coast suburb have been warned the area faces a development ‘disaster’ unless a number of steps are taken.

Bonney MP Sam O’Connor moderates a meeting at Labrador on the council’s City Plan.

LABRADOR residents have been warned their suburb will follow Palm Beach and become a concrete canyon of high rise apartments.

At a fiery meeting to discuss the council’s City Plan, Community Alliance Association president John Hicks said residents in the growth target areas of Labrador, Biggera Waters and Southport West were told they were about to cop a double whammy.

About 350 people at the meeting organised by Bonney MP Sam O’Connor at the Labrador Senior Citizens Centre on Sunday night were updated on City Plan changes by experienced town planner Noel Grummitt.

Bonney MP Sam O’Connor moderates a meeting at Labrador on the council’s City Plan.

Council planning committee chair Cameron Caldwell, when taking questions, faced a fiery reception.

Mr Hicks told Labrador residents: “First, your proposed zoning will change dramatically, with big increases to height and density.

“Second, unless you act now to get crucial changes included in the proposed amendments, you are going to experience the same sort of development approvals disaster that is currently emerging at Palm Beach and diminishing the streetscape and lifestyle amenity of its residents.”

Under the changes, Labrador would lack a low density area, putting heritage homes at risk and join Palm Beach as another part of the “Gotham by the sea” skyline.

Cr Caldwell assured residents that they did not have to be a town planner to provide input on the City Plan amendments, and officers had walked the streets of Labrador to get input.

Residents line up at Labrador for a meeting on the council's City Plan organised by Bonney MP Sam O’Connor.

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“And I joined them there to make sure they were doing their job. And can I tell you without giving too much away, there will be changes made, okay,” he told the meeting.

“The things that Sam (O’Connor) is suggesting will be taken on board. Keep it real, keep it focused, please help us understand how we can make this better. I think you will be pleased at the end of the day. We will take on board what you are saying.”

Mr Hicks warned that the provisions in the current City Plan to provide sustainable projects were not being upheld, and the proposed amendments did not fully address all of the issues which concerned residents.

A major concern for the Community Alliance, a peak body representing 15 community groups, is apartment building applications being approved which do not follow City Plan guidelines on density, height and setbacks.

“These relaxations result in bulky buildings with no deep soil landscaping to support shade trees, little privacy between buildings, blocked views, wind tunnels, reduced fire safety, side streets full of parked cars, and reduced amenity, hot treeless streetscapes, and a canyon effect,” Mr Hicks said.

The Community Alliance is recommended residents in their submissions include the following: improvements:

• Any development applications which exceed stipulated density, site cover or setbacks

become impact assessable. Residents can then comment and lodge an appeal.

• Reinstate peer review by expert design panels — highly qualified urban designers, architects,

environmental engineers and landscape architects. The reviews had improved apartment buildings in NSW.

• Require all apartment building approvals, including medium density, to provide spacious

areas of attractive landscaping at street level.

Bonney MP Sam O’Connor addresses a Labrador meeting on City Plan.

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• At least ten per cent of site area to deep soil planting at street level, minimise or eliminate above ground car park podiums and provide wide separation distances to adjacent towers to allow adequate airflow and views.

• Stop approving tall, skinny buildings on small suburban housing blocks with tiny setbacks.

Mr Hicks thanked Mr O’Connor for convening the community forum and helping residents put together properly made submissions in the lead-up to consultation closing on November 11.

Mr O’Connor told the Bulletin he believed the council was listening to residents, and Councillor Caldwell deserved credit for facing a hostile crowd.

“It was quite a fiery response. You have to give him full credit for showing up. It showed council are listening. It shows they want to take feedback,” Mr O’Connor said.