UNIFIED FRONT A WINNER
A MUMS and Dads army living at one of Gold Coast’s oldest canal estates will today celebrate. Council will reject a new commercial development. Their behind-the-scenes battle is worth telling.
In late October residents were dumping petitions with area councillor Gary Baildon, opposed to an application for a two-level business which could include a cafe and health facilities on a 850sq m housing block.
Council would ultimately receive 228 objections and 69 letters of support for the proposed development on a tricky intersection opposite the Surfers Paradise State School.
Other than the school, a church and the upmarket Capri on Via Roma shopping centre, the canal estate – unlike neighbouring Chevron Island – is all lowrise housing.
As the petitions were first delivered, residents met with Cr Baildon, the Parents and Citizens Association and council officers at the school.
“The recent tragic incident at the Banksia State School, NSW, in which two young students were killed, brought back the reality and questions our historical perception of a safe haven school environment for all our children,” resident Michael Niddrie wrote to all councillors on behalf of the newly formed Save Our Streets Alliance.
“School students (here) have been at risk for many years. The situation will worsen with increased traffic activity generated by the success of this
Councillors were told that residents knew that Cr Baildon was “only one vote”.
“School parents and the local community believe that any injury or death in this danger zone caused by an increase in traffic due to this proposed development will make the councillors approving the application not only responsible but also culpable in the tragedy.”
At a council planning meeting earlier this week, resident Ian Ward was asked, for the benefit of other community groups forming across the city, how this development drama had played out (see our video online).
“When we first spoke to our neighbours we soon realised there were about four factions and three petitions doing the rounds,” he said.
“That’s when we decided to unite our efforts under one umbrella.
“It was a real community effort with lots of people doing little bits and I think that’s the key to our success. Individually we were behind the eight ball, but collectively the campaign really came together.
“When the situation became public through the Bulletin, the campaign got a lift. That’s when we realised we were not alone, and there were a lot of like-minded people on the island.”
This victory is the blueprint for future resident groups facing the planning battle of their lives in their backyards. development application.”