Masthead Main Beach: Gold Coast Council to approve tower ‘bigger than Q1’
A Main Beach mega tower bigger than the Q1 is to be approved despite protests from residents. Here’s just how big it will be.
MAIN Beach residents are furious after learning the council will approve a mega tower bulkier in size than the Q1.
Main Beach Association leader Sue Donovan said residents had been advised of a council officer recommendation to approve the 39-storey Masthead development.
The Bulletin in an exclusive report revealed the development application was a late item at Thursday’s planning committee meeting.
“This (approval) is despite the same officers having previously expressed grave concerns about the development,” Ms Donovan said.
“These concerns include the tower’s scale — height, setbacks and site cover — in relation to the very small site of 812 sq metres and the neighbourhood character of much lower buildings ‘located in a landscaped setting which promote an open and attractive skyline’.
“A startling fact is that council is approving a building in Main Beach that has an intensity — bulk — that is over twice the scale of the Q1.”
The Q1 skyscraper in Surfers Paradise is 322.5m high and was the world’s tallest residential tower when built.
Councillors Darren Taylor and Peter Young, who had contact with concerned residents, during the committee meeting asked questions about the size of the building. Councillor Hermann Vorster sought improvements in terms of more established trees for streetscaping.
Planning chair Cameron Caldwell said he understood the concerns of residents but the application “meets all the expectations of the City Plan” and should be supported.
The vote at planning committee was unanimous for supporting the officer’s recommendation.
Cr Taylor during questioning of officers raised fears that a “40 storey building on a 850sqm lot” could be become the norm for a suburb featuring buildings in landscaped gardens.
Officers in defending their recommendation for approval said the building fitted with the character of area, the application complied with City Plan and the project was in the light rail urban renewal area.
Ms Donovan told the Bulletin: “This new Main Beach building is at least 2.4 times the intensity or bulk considered acceptable under the City Plan.
“A leading town planner commissioned by the Main Beach Association showed that an
appropriate height for that site would be at the most 15 storeys — less than half of the height that has been approved.
“As with the approval of the controversial Monaco building — next door to Masthead — this decision shows that there is something seriously wrong with the way the City Plan is being interpreted by officers, who clearly fail to see the big picture.”
Ms Donovan said the approval would see developers and planners “rubbing their hands with glee”.
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When development applications were code assessable all power lies with the developer while residents of adjacent properties have absolutely no rights,” Ms Donovan said.
“Their properly made objections carry no weight, even when professionally prepared, and they don’t even have the right to lodge an appeal in the Planning and Environment Court, as would be the case if non compliant developments such as Masthead or Monaco were classed as impact assessable.
“It’s too late for Main Beach, where council is either deliberately or accidentally destroying the character of a beautiful suburb.
“We can only hope that all councillors are addressing this very serious issue for all of the Gold Coast as they consider the next round of Amendments to the City Plan, due for public consultation in February.”
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