Burleigh MP Michael Hart says Palm Beach residents are giving up objecting to tower developments in Palm Beach
A local MP says Palm Beach residents are “giving up” on objecting to tower developments because the council will not listen to them. Read what he said
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Palm Beach residents are “giving up” on objecting to tower developments because the council will not listen to them, says Burleigh MP Michael Hart.
The LNP backbencher on his Facebook has given the council a political blast after a majority of councillors at planning committee approved a 13-level residential tower at Palm Beach.
New area councillor Josh Martin strongly opposed the development, but was only supported by Robina’s Dan Doran and Pacific Pines-Nerang councillor Peter Young.
Developers had approval for a nine-level building but officers recommended approval of new plans for a higher tower on an 817sq m Gold Coast Highway site which fronts Jefferson Lane.
They said the applicant had submitted an improved design which meant it met the criteria for the 50 per cent uplift in height under the City Plan.
Mr Hart in his social media post warned councillors to stick to the City Plan. Full council will make a decision at a meeting on May 28.
“Gold Coast Councillors please note – I strongly object to increased building heights in my electorate particularly Burleigh and Palm Beach as do the majority of the residents I represent and talk to every day. Stick to the town plan,” he wrote.
“I can’t believe the Gold Coast City councillors believe increased height limits along our beaches will help the housing crisis forced on us by increased immigration (both interstate and overseas) and the lack of greenfield building developments in our hinterland.
“A few extra multi million dollar units on the beach won’t help but will destroy our local amenity. Encouraging lower cost developments further west might be an idea. Opening more greenfield land for housing might help.”
Mr Hart also questioned council’s argument for approval, that there were fewer objections, only 20 compared to more than a thousand protesting about nearby recent development.
Planning chair Mark Hammel, who supported approval of the development, after the meeting said: “The last three applications we have dealt with at Jefferson Lane have had maybe 1200, 1500 and 2000 objections.
“This one has had 20. It’s unheard of in Palm Beach in recent times for a tower development for an uplift test. I hope that’s the Palm Beach community saying that’s a very high quality outcome with this building.”
But Mr Hart, in his post, said: “You have to wonder what planet the Gold Coast Council officers are on when they state ‘the fact there is only 20 objections, is this saying this is the sort of height that Palm Beach wants’.
“Wrong – there are only 20 objections because people have given up objecting because nobody in council or this state government listens.
“The sense I get from my local area is if councillors don’t listen to their residents they won’t be there long.”
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