Cairns development: Residents object to plans for six-storey resort at Palm Cove
A giant northern beaches development first mooted in 2017 but recently revived with scaled back high rise hotel plans has garnered fierce opposition.
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More than 300 submissions objecting to a proposal for a six-storey resort, apartments and villas at Palm Cove have flooded in to Cairns Regional Council as residents from throughout Cairns and interstate property owners mobilise against it.
Objections close on April 5 and resident Cynthia Cole has been campaigning fiercely.
She gathered more than 800 objections at Palm Cove markets on Sunday and will be at Clifton Beach Shopping Centre with objection submission forms on April 4 from 9am to noon and Wednesday from 9am to 10.30am.
Ms Cole said objectors were not anti-development but were adamant the adage “nothing higher than a palm tree” was very much community sentiment for the northern beaches village.
After selling part of the land for a residential enclave, the developers in February unveiled spectacular plans for part of the 3.85ha site at 33-41 Cedar Rd – but they’ve scaled back an eight-storey resort with a height of 28m to a six storey resort with a height of 20m.
“We would like for Palm Cove to remain in essence in its current idyllic village atmosphere with its low rise buildings,” Ms Cole said.
She said council should protect Palm Cove as it was a major drawcard for the region and allowing six storeys would set a precedent.
Ms Cole said it was difficult to comprehend how council accepted the application because the CairnsPlan guidelines had a 15m height limit.
Cairns Combined Beaches Community Association president Warren Herkess said there would be immense pressure on infrastructure and water run-off issues.
“These guys just continue to push the envelope,” he said.
“Council is weak as water and the planners are all wet behind the ears, so they just have no idea what the community wants.
“I think this one will probably end up in court if the council don’t adhere to what the community wants.”
In his submission, Roger Davy said the size and scale of the development was out of character with the neighbourhood.
Gerhard Labuschagne said a new development would bring new energy but was concerned about the height.
“Last year we stole an incredible amount of the Noosa holiday-makers due to the bad weather they had, and many of those guests have rebooked us this year because Palm Cove reminded them of something Noosa once was,” he said
“No village has a commercial building towering over it.”
Tracey Vince said “we have fought this battle before’ and “the traditional limit is four storeys – no higher than the tallest palm tree”.
Representatives of the developers – Palm Cove Nominees, whose directors are listed as Melbourne-based Jack Rosen Melbourne and Sydney pair Fred Bart and Garry Kam – were contacted for comment.
The developer received a “further issues” letter from council in May 2020 and applied eight times for an extension of time before finally responding five days before deadline in February 2023 with a whopping new document it says addresses previously raised issues.
The 120-room resort would have a gym and day spa, pool bar, and boutique retail, restaurant and conference facilities.
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Originally published as Cairns development: Residents object to plans for six-storey resort at Palm Cove
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