Beachhead for developers

CAIRNS Regional Council may have opened the floodgates to multistorey buildings on the city’s northern beaches.

The council has approved two seven-storey towers at Trinity Beach to the horror of many residents and three councillors — Brett Olds, Amy Eden and Rob Pyne — who voted against the application.

Councillors were caught between a rock and a hard place — either reject it because it was unpopular with residents or approve a perfectly legal development.

Councillors Bob Manning, Terry James, Max O’Halloran, Brett Moller, Cathy Zeiger and Rhonda Coghlan were in favour, while Cr Kristy Vallely was absent.

Planning and environment general manager Kelly Reaston warned that refusal would likely lead to an expensive appeal, which the council would lose.

Cr James says the approval will not set a precedent but Cr Olds says there is a community expectation that beach developments not exceed 15m or four storeys.

The council can expect more anger from the community who were not permitted to have their say as the project complies with the council’s planning scheme.

Developer Ben Johnston is promising a high-quality project with four different styles of housing, which he says will not impose a super structure on the landscape.

But some residents are so upset they are selling up and moving out, concerned about tower occupants peering down into their properties as well as an increase in traffic.

The council now needs to push ahead with changes that would mean any future towers would be open to public examination.

Nick Dalton

Deputy editor