Burleigh MP Michael Hart under fire after a 13-level apartment tower approval in Palm Beach
A Gold Coast MP is being called “hypocritical” for attacking councillors after they approved a luxury apartment tower when he lives in a million-dollar beach unit. See what they said
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Councillors say Burleigh MP Michael Hart is being “hypocritical” for attacking them about approving a luxury apartment tower when he lives in a million-dollar beach unit.
But Mr Hart has taken a second swing at them – he says he does not need a lecture on planning from councillors and where he lives does not influence his views on building height.
The veteran LNP backbencher on his Facebook page last week was scathing about the City planning committee giving the tick to a 13-level tower application at Palm Beach.
“The sense I get from my local area is if councillors don’t listen to their residents they won’t be there long,” Mr Hart wrote.
A City insider said the comments upset many councillors. “They think it’s hypocritical of him to be sitting in a high-rise and making these comments. It’s pretty dumb,” the source said.
Mr Hart bought a family unit along the Gold Coast Highway in 2018 for $1,108,000.
City planning chair Mark Hammel, aware of previous publicity about the purchase, said: “I can’t help but struggle with a politician who lives in a unit tower having a crack at us about approving another one.”
Cr Hammel said the City plan allowed for a 50 per cent uplift test and professional planning officers had followed those guidelines in recommending approval of the Palm Beach tower.
Mr Hart also questioned why councillors believed increased height limits along beaches would help the housing crisis when a only few extra multi million dollar units would be delivered
“Encouraging lower cost developments further west might be an idea. Opening more greenfield land for housing might help,” he wrote.
Cr Hammel said councillors had never made that suggestion, and all residents should be given a choice in housing supply.
“Mr Hart seems to think that his area is the only one on the Gold Coast where development is happening. Wrong. Every suburb across the Gold Coast is feeling the impact of development,” he said.
“Where exactly is the mystical greenfield land he speaks of. Is the extent of the thinking from Mr Hart limited to opening up more greenfield land, ripping down more trees and adding to our infrastructure program that is already behind.
“We can either have ridiculous conversations like Mr Hart suggests – the idea everywhere but his backyard should have to deal with growth.
“Or, have an honest conversation with our community about what a balanced outcome looks like – one where we accommodate growth while managing and enhancing amenity and lifestyle.”
Mr Hart admitted his comments had “struck a nerve” with Cr Hammel.
“If he thinks it’s only his opinion that counts he is wrong and I don’t need a lecture on planning from him,” he said.
“I am fully aware of the pressure councillors and council officers are under from the state government to provide housing, how town plans work and how state planning laws allow modification to those state approved plans.”
Mr Hart said he wants laws changed to allow councillors more power over what happens in their own patch.
“I understand the present government has refused a number of times to accept council’s sensible town plan changes,” he said.
“As I said in my post if councillors get it wrong they can be voted out at the next election.
I fail to see why where I live should dictate my opinions of height limits in the area I represent. I also fail to see why Councillor Hammel didn’t support his Palm Beach councillor Josh Martin (who voted against the tower), does he think he knows the people of Palm Beach better than myself or Josh.”
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