Neigh-bourhood dispute
BLACK Swan Lake is the backdrop to a property row between developers, stable owners and the Gold Coast City Council as new multistorey units are approved.
Mapping shows how the filling in of the lake for a horse exercise area and access to walking tracks on land around the Gold Coast Turf Club’s revamped Traintech proposal will enable trainers to dodge dangerous road traffic.
Councillors were warned late last year that the relaxed City Plan allowing for a mixed residential and horse training area was causing car accidents.
Stable property owner Peters contacted Councillor Dawn Crichlow about six medium-sized units being approved at Ken Russell Ct, saying it was “devastating” to a neighbouring trainer who could not risk walking their horses.
“When the Gold Coast Show moved to the GCTC the restrictions of the Bundall equine precinct were relaxed to allow outdoor events and medium-rise accommodation,” Ms Peters wrote.
“Since then five training establishments in Waterford Ct have been demolished and replaced with three-storey unit blocks and the two remaining have been sold for a unit complex, that makes Waterford Ct wholly residential.
“The only other existing training establishments are the 10 in Ken Russell Ct and four in Ascot Ct.” material change of use for a new unit block sparking ongoing mediation hearings at the Southport Planning Court.
“How are the residents of this new unit block supposed to live with 20 horses training noisily within two metres of their bedrooms every morning?” she wrote.
“How are the horses going to maintain their peak performance if they are deprived of sleep between 5pm and 10 to 11pm at night? How is neighbour going to get on with neighbour when repeated complaints are made?
“The vet clinic staff is already called to many horse versus vehicle accidents and the vet feels the increase in traffic with non-horse people at the wheel will make this much more frequent.”
Officers recommending approval said the application for the unit development exceeded the minimum car parking provisions, privacy was ensured through the design and the two-storey height was within the three-storey code.
Medium-rise residential uses were considered in the equestrian precinct when they did not conflict with the Bundall effluent re-pump facility and the units would not be impacted by odour or air quality.
Cr Crichlow fears a watered down City Plan since February 2016 allowed more unit development, and fewer private stables could give the turf club an unfair advantage with its Traintech “one stop shop” for trainers near the lake.
“It should be a horse precinct, for equine use only. The stables there shouldn’t be turned into residential,” Cr Crichlow said. “You’re letting one controlling body take over. It’s critical we keep the existing stables.”
Economy planning and environment committee chairman Cameron Caldwell said: “Council recognises the importance of the equine and racing industry to our city. City Plan provisions reflect our intention to maintain and support the equine precinct”.
Cr Caldwell said council was engaged in two appeals in the planning and environment court involving the equine precinct “both of which we hope to bring to a timely and satisfactory conclusion”.
HOW ARE THE RESIDENTS OF THIS NEW UNIT BLOCK SUPPOSED TO LIVE WITH 20 HORSES TRAINING NOISILY WITHIN TWO METRES OF THEIR BEDROOMS EVERY MORNING?