Shock Currumbin Hill development: councillors vote on major unit project

Councillors in a stunning decision have overruled council officers and moved to protect the character of a popular area by opposing a unit development.

Units planned for Pacific Parade at Currumbin in a development application for the Gold Coast City Council.

COUNCILLORS have overruled council officers and moved to protect the Currumbin esplanade by opposing a unit development.

Area councillor Gail O’Neill received the backing of all councillors at a planning committee meeting yesterday in opposing an application for a material-change-of-use for a four-unit development on a 405 sqm block in Pacific Parade.

Plans for units in Pacific Parade at Currumbin on the Gold Coast.

The streetscape near Currumbin Rock is one of the most loved, laid-back destinations on the Coast, used by walkers and cyclists competing in the Commonwealth Games and the location each year for the Swell Sculpture Festival.

Officers had recommended approval of the building application subject to conditions, but Cr O’Neill argued strongly against it after residents made 29 objections.

Philip Follent, the council’s first City Architect and Friends of Currumbin executive member, wrote to Cr O’Neill and all councillors warning about the precedent likely to be set by the development.

“I would ask that you all act as champions for the preservation of beachside character along the Currumbin esplanade as you make an assessment of the application for a five-storey-plus, rooftop amenity space at 780 Pacific Pde Currumbin,” he wrote.

Units planned for Pacific Parade at Currumbin in a development application for the Gold Coast City Council.

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“The local community is quite distressed about the application which, previously at six storeys, is seen as the beginning of the end of the village appeal of the short – it’s only 100m length – neighbourhood centre zone.”

Mr Follent said residents believed the unit block was non-compliant with the City Plan and would lead to the “potential sterilisation of a vibrant streetside character”.

If the development was approved, it was likely that three other applications on similar sites would be before council before year’s end, he said.

Officers in their report had noted the proposed building height was five storeys when the required level in the overlay plan was three.

Public submissions had focused on the development exceeding height limits, residential density, setbacks and site cover requirements.

Aerial view of planned units in Pacific Parade at Currumbin.

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The officer’s report said residents had asked that “the Currumbin landscape character must be retained”.

Residents also raised concerns that earthworks could lead to an increase in landslides given the hill’s steep slope behind the site.

Outside the yesterday meeting, Cr O’Neill told the Bulletin: “The height limit was right but the storeys were wrong, and that just interferes with the visual amenity of that hill. I worry about the stability of the hill. If it was actually built, a geotech engineer would have to oversee that.”

Councillor Gail O'Neill — successful in lobbying councillors to stop a unit development. Picture: Richard Gosling.

Cr O’Neill said the application had included a rooftop terrace with a gazebo which almost presents a sixth storey. All councillors at full council on Friday will vote on it.

She said she was concerned about a precedent being set given it was likely several older dwellings would be redeveloped during the next five to six years.

“In my opinion that would wreck the visual amenity of that hill. It’s a very special place, and we’ve just got to protect. I’ve got eight (votes) here, that’s all you need (at full council).”