New building approved for vacant site at 226 Mulgrave Rd

An impressive looking building known as the Glasshouse that appears to be modelled on an air traffic control tower is now one step closer to being built after years of delays.

An early concept image of the building known as the Glasshouse.

An impressive looking building known as the Glasshouse that appears to be modelled on an air traffic control tower is now one step closer to being built after years of delays.

In 2018, Keir QLD Pty Ltd applied to Cairns Regional Council for a material change of use development permit that would pave the way for construction of a new commercial mixed-use development at 226 Mulgrave Road.

A vision for an ultra-modern looking, three-storey designer building included a food and drink outlet on the ground floor accompanied by health care service suites and a shop.

Real estate marketing material indicated to prospective tenants that the building would begin construction in late 2019.

An earlier artist impression of the building proposed for Mulgrave Rd.

However, this didn’t eventuate and in September last year the land sold for $904,200.

In February this year, council approved a minor application change to the building’s plan that replaced an earlier decision notice made in October 2018.

Amendments to the plan included a reduction of a cantilevered awning from 2.4 to 1.8m and a widening of the footpath to the edge of the property boundary as well as a reduction in parking spaces.

A new building proposed for 226 Mulgrave Rd has been granted approval by Cairns Regional Council.

In June this year, another minor change was made to the design to enable a buffer between the awning of the building and high-voltage power conductors.

In an email from Ergon Energy submitted with modified drawings it was stated the HV and LV conductors failed the horizontal clearance blowout test on the building’s Creedy Street frontage.

“Without doing a full design in the design tool we won’t know what exactly needs to happen. This will need to go through the full process,” an Ergon representative told planners.

On June 25, council approved the minor change to the proposed building now known as the Balance Centre.

Updated drawings reveal a shift in design of the building proposed for Mulgrave Rd.

“The proposed development … is considered to be capable of complying with the outcomes of the applicable benchmarks,” according to the council statement of reasons.

Awnings on the Creedy Street frontage will be scrapped due to the overhead power line issue.

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Originally published as New building approved for vacant site at 226 Mulgrave Rd