Coast residents furious about ‘dud’ tower not even built for Aussies which only has 24 car parks
Residents say a student accommodation tower being planned on the southern Gold Coast will be a “dud” with a “disgraceful” amount of parking provided for a 12-level development. READ THE OBJECTIONS >>>
Gold Coast
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RESIDENTS say a student accommodation tower being planned on the southern Gold Coast, will be a “dud” with a “disgraceful” amount of parking provided for a 12-level development.
About 100 residents on Monday attended a protest where there was unanimous backing of a motion to oppose the high rise project in Golden Four Drive at Bilinga.
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A resident later told the Bulletin: “The big issue with the Bilinga tower is there are only 24 parking spaces for 223 bedrooms. That’s just disgraceful.”
The Bulletin has checked online submissions to council planners which confirms the major community fears, apart from height and size of the tower, will be traffic congestion and safety.
“The development assumes only 24 people in the 173 units and 223 bedroom development will drive cars. This is inaccurate and will lead to major traffic problems in the surrounding street,” a resident wrote.
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Another resident suggested approving a high rise tower would impact negatively on the mental health of Bilinga, Kirra, Coolangatta and Tugun communities.
“Why build a student accommodation tower when international students should not be travelling, when stage 4 of the light rail is still to be assessed and when the local community is against this development due to several very good reasons,” the Tugun resident said.
“The irony is that it is ugly, the people residing in it will not be Aussies, let alone Bilinga homeless and get this — we the taxpayer will end up paying for the privilege of having a rainbow coloured dud building in our back yard.”
A Pacific Parade resident warned about the potential for an increase in car accidents “at what is already a dangerous intersection”.
“In the two years that I have lived in Johnson Street, I have witnessed a number of collisions at that very intersection,” he wrote.
“Unfortunately there are many drivers that don’t seem to know how to navigate such a busy intersection and I fear that this will become an even bigger problem as more traffic is introduced to the area.”
The area only allowed for a eight storey limit, the resident added.
Urbis Pty Ltd in their report for developers said the proposed development was consistent with outcomes of the Urban Neighbourhoods Element of the City Plan.
“The development provides a new housing choice for university students which is not currently provided for elsewhere in the area,” Urbis said in their report.
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“The proposed development presents a high-quality architectural design outcome that complements the subtropical, coastal environment. The built form balances the unique needs of students, while ensuring it integrates with the surrounding beachfront residential area.”
The building had one basement level of car parking with 28 car parking spaces, Urbis said.
The town planners admitted the development had a shortfall of car parking spaces but an assessment report would show how it complied with the transport code.
“The proposed development encourages active transport options including walking, buses and bike riding for students when travelling to the beach, Southern Cross University campus and the local services and facilities. By providing easily accessible bicycle parking within the development and understanding the behaviours of students, the development is designed to encourage these active transport options,” Urbis said.
EARLIER: ANGRY RESIDENTS HOLD PROTEST
RESIDENTS furious about recent council development approvals have met on the southern Gold Coast to protest against a giant tower project.
Organisers estimated about 100 property owners gathered at a park at 100 Pacific Parade, just after 9.30am on Monday.
Resident Michael Sexton had sent out a flyer on behalf of the “Resident Groups at Bilinga and north Kirra” about a development application before council for a 12-storey high rise just 100m from both Gold Coast Airport and the beach.
He said former city architect Philip Follent, at the meeting, outlined how the project failed to meet eight planning tests.
Residents at the protest unanimously supported a motion opposing the Bilinga project, and backed property owners concerned about the The Pavilion development at Kirra.
Almost 200 objections had been lodged with council about student accommodation tower which residents suggest signify “growing unrest” by Bilinga, Tugun, Currumbin and Kirra property owners.
Developer GC1ST has teamed up with Southern Cross University and plans to build the student accommodation complex on Bilinga’s Golden Four Drive.
The tower, which will replace a two-storey building, is to feature 173 units, 223 bedrooms and communal areas for study, dining and relaxation.
Mr Sexton confirmed the protest was not just about the tower project but the height, bulk and density of buildings being approved by the council on the southern end.
Many of the southern suburbs had been protected from height increases due to the flight path from the Gold Coast Airport at Coolangatta.
“There has been a Bilinga control plan in place which was basically for seven storeys,” Mr Sexton told the Bulletin.
In the flyer, Mr Sexton said the community was not opposed to development “but knows when it is being tricked”.
“Being beside the airport Bilinga is not the place for high density, high rise. Our parking and traffic congestion are already stretched,” he wrote.
The flyer warns “our councillors and the GCCC planning committee are betraying residents’ faith”.
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