Gold Coast councillor admits city plan ‘isn’t working’ to stop overdevelopment

CITY leaders have admitted the city plan is not working after another group of residents fired-up about overdevelopment in their coastal suburbs. VOTE IN OUR POLL

ANOTHER councillor has called for the Gold Coast’s city plan to be changed, saying it is “not working” for her constituents.

Councillor Pauline Young told a community meeting at Mermaid Beach yesterday that the current plan was allowing too many large developments to proceed in the seaside suburb.

Council’s city plan, which came into effect in February 2016, allows for buildings up to 9 metres in height in Mermaid Beach. But a provision in the State Government’s Planning Act, which took effect in August 2017, allows buildings to be 50 per cent higher if developers meet certain conditions.

The same Act also allows for exemptions to density and setback rules.

Councillor Pauline Young and Cr Paul Taylor have asked the council to get rid of a big part of the city plan. Picture Glenn Hampson

“The 50 per cent overlay that they put within this current City Plan is not working for this area,” Cr Young said.

“I want to keep the village feel here, all the way down to Tallebudgera Creek and beyond.”

“Paul (Taylor) and I have taken it to them over and over again.

“We want the 50 per cent to come out of it.”

Cr Young’s comments come after councillor Daphne McDonald last week told the Bulletin the town plan was not worth having as large buildings continued to sprout in Palm Beach.

The Mermaid Beach Community Association was concerned the three-storey height limit was going to be abandoned after a four-storey building was approved for 243 Hedges Ave in January.

President Alf Vockler said his association filed an appeal in the Planning and Environment against the approval of 243 Hedges Ave, however withdrew the appeal last month.

“We spent a bit of money on the appeal but we were advised it wouldn’t have been successful if we continued,” he said.

There are plans for another four-storey building in Mermaid Beach at 37 Arthur Street, which is still before the council.

Mermaid Beach residents are concerned this four storey building at 37 Arthur St will be approved by the council.

Mr Vockler said it was this development which saw more than 70 people attend Sunday’s community association meeting at the Mermaid Beach Surf Club.

The usually mild-mannered residents of Mermaid Beach angrily confronted councillors Cr Taylor and Cr Young about the relaxation of the town plan.

Comments including “cut the crap”, “you represent us not the developers” and “you make the laws, you can stop it” were made to the councillors by fired-up speakers.

Nobby Beach resident and former Division 10 local government candidate Mona Hecke (middle) said people left the meeting feeling frustrated. Picture Glenn Hampson

Nobby’s Beach resident and Division 10 candidate in the 2016 election Mona Hecke said people left the meeting frustrated.

“All they said was that they would take the information and take it back to council,” she said.

“Basically they said they were powerless.”

Ms Hecke said residents all along the coast were frustrated with the town planning laws, claiming they were unable to get answers to their concerns and that there was insufficient consultation about developments.

“And when there are a lot of objections the developments are approved anyway,” she said.

“It would be lovely to see development executed with some consideration for residents.”

Cr Taylor said he would fight to enforce the current height limit but was just one of 15 councillors and other councillors could vote in favour of large developments.

Both councillors warned the residents that if the developments were rejected, the developers could take the council to court, costing ratepayers millions of dollars.

Member of the Mermaid Beach Community Association Terry Jackman said the council should enforce the height limits and if developers don’t like it they should go to court. Picture Glenn Hampson

However former Sunland Group board member and Hedges Ave resident Terry Jackman said the council’s approach resulted in residents battling developers.

“Currently they approve the developments and then tell residents if they don’t like it they can challenge the decision in court,” he said.

“Instead they should enforce the planning scheme and reject the developments and then the developers can take them to court instead of forcing the neighbours to pay for the court fees.”