Canoe club opposes new Strand apartments, bar

Townsville’s outrigger canoe club says its access to the beach will be impacted by a planned Strand unit complex and bar. See what the community thinks.

Townsville has previously held the Australian Outrigger Championships on the Strand. (Front) President of the Townsville Outriggers Canoe Club Derek Cole. (Back LtoR) Ray Pomfrett, Colin Iversen and Ron Twomey.

A popular outrigger canoe club has drawn a line in the sand over plans for a unit, restaurant and bar project opposite its launching point on Townsville’s iconic Strand.

In submissions, the club and some members have objected to the council with one saying the Strand is “becoming grotesque”.

They are among about 20 objections, including from neighbours on either side of the proposed development who complain about a potential loss of views, amenity, a lack of parking and adherence to setbacks and a planned height of nine storeys, above the council’s benchmark of five.

Meanwhile, about 10 other submitters support the project, saying it is fundamental to improving the Strand and that complaints about a lack of parking are unfounded.

An image of the restaurant and unit project planned for 71 The Strand. Photo: Warburton Investments

The site at 71 The Strand is vacant land between the Anelay and Watermark developments.

The proponent is a company, Warburton Investments, associated with Ingham’s Filei family.

The so-called Strand Beach Club is proposed to have 18 two, three and four-bedroom apartments with food and drink outlets on a 1012sq m block.

The building is to be tiered from three and four storeys at the front to nine storeys behind.

According to the development application, it is intended to enhance the Strand as a pre-eminent residential and tourist destination.

Outrigger canoes on the Strand. Photo: Townsville Outrigger Canoe Club

But the outrigger club, which has operated from the Strand for more than 20 years, says an increased demand for parking since Anelay was developed last year has impacted members transporting canoes weighing up to 130kg to and from the beachfront.

Outrigger canoes in action. Photo: Townsville Outrigger Canoe Club

It says the development will further limit access and that the Strand has adequate food and beverage outlets.

In another submission, club member Cheryl Thomson says a previously liveable suburb “is becoming grotesque — something that would not be tolerated in other suburbs”.

An image of the restaurant and unit project planned for 71 The Strand. Photo: Warburton Investments

A submission from Strand resident Janice Stein says people who have only one on-site car space park their second vehicles on the Strand and that the development’s planned 1.5 car park allocation for each two and three bedroom unit will likely not be enough.

But Proserpine resident and “regular Strand visitor” Angela Fox says the parking concerns are unfounded and that residents should push for more use of public transport.

“I hope council applies the same balanced decision making it did with Anelay and other developments. The Strand should not sit idle and should evolve to better suit the needs of the residents of tomorrow,” Ms Fox says.

Even so, current Anelay resident Judith Kelly says the developer’s approach “seems to be rack ‘em and stack ‘em” with no consideration other than to the bottom line.

Warburton Investments spokesman Luke Filei said he appreciated the supportive submissions and didn’t believe the concerns over parking or traffic were warranted.

He said the food and beverage premises were intended to be a “second order” offer to service passing customers and not like Watermark, Anelay or the proposed hotel at 68 The Strand.

“I don’t see it generating meaningful amounts of additional traffic,” Mr Filei said.

Originally published as Canoe club opposes new Strand apartments, bar