Project triggers scheme rethink

A GAME-CHANGING trigger may have just been pulled after residents bombarded Cairns regional councillors with emails demanding a say on a seven-storey Trinity Beach apartment tower development.

Councillors’ inboxes copped an onslaught of correspondence on Tuesday night as residents realised a decision was imminent on the Mararna Street development.

One key item effectively rendered the objections void — the towers were classed as code assessable and residents were not given any formal avenue to voice their objections.

It comes too late for the Mararna Street development, but a major change that would have serious ramifications for any future high-rise building proposals on the northern beaches is on the cards.

Division 9 councillor Brett Olds asked whether the planning scheme could be altered so any hill-slope development or buildings exceeding four storeys would automatically become impact assessable.

That change in classification would open each project to public consultation.

“If it goes to impact, they do get to put submissions in. Is it possible to amend the planning scheme to do that?” he asked.

Planning and environment general manager Kelly Reaston had good news.

“The quick answer is yes,” she said.

The council already has a suite of planning scheme amendments with the state government for review, mainly dealing with the building certification industry.

Ms Reaston said a wider regional planning scheme review was intended to follow.

“There’s a community expectation that once it gets above a certain height, they have the capacity to have a say,” she said.

“It is certainly possible for council to have a trigger in its scheme on certain issues of noncompliance that lift the level of assessment to impact assessment.”

Ms Reaston said the project was code assessable because it was within the tourist accommodation zone, and each of the uses it applied for — reconfiguration of a lot, multiple dwellings and short-term accommodation — were code assessable.

“There is nothing in the planning scheme that triggers a higher level of assessment (i.e., impact assessment) due to height,” she said.

“There is also no ability for council to increase the level of assessment without amending the planning scheme.”