WE NEED A PLAN B
Second councillor demands change to City Plan
ANOTHER local councillor has called for the Gold Coast’s City Plan to be changed, saying it is “not working” for her constituents.
Councillor Pauline Young told a community meeting at Mermaid Beach yesterday the current plan was allowing too many large developments to proceed in the seaside suburb. “This current City Plan is not working for this area,” Cr Young said.
Councillor Daphne McDonald last week told the Bulletin the Town Plan was not worth having as large buildings continued to sprout in Palm Beach.
ANOTHER local councillor has called for the Gold Coast’s City Plan to be changed, saying it is “not working” for her constituents.
Councillor Pauline Young told a community meeting at Mermaid Beach yesterday the current plan was allowing too many large developments to proceed in the seaside suburb.
Council’s City Plan, which came into effect in February 2016, allows for buildings up to 9 metres in height in Mermaid Beach. But a provision in the State Government’s Planning Act, which took effect in August 2017, allows buildings to be 50 per cent higher if developers meet certain conditions.
The same Act also allows for exemptions to density and setback rules.
“The 50 per cent overlay that they put within this current City Plan is not working for this area,” Cr Young said.
“I want to keep the village feel here, all the way down to Tallebudgera Creek and beyond.”
“Paul (Taylor) and I have taken it to them over and over again. We want the 50 per cent to come out of it.”
Cr Young’s comments come after councillor Daphne McDonald last week told the Bulletin the Town Plan was not worth having as large buildings continued to sprout in Palm Beach.
The Mermaid Beach Community Association was concerned the three-storey height limit was going to be abandoned after a four-storey building was approved for 243 Hedges Ave in January.
President Alf Vockler said his association filed an appeal in the Planning and Environment Court against the approval of 243 Hedges Ave, however withdrew the appeal last month.
“We spent a bit of money on the appeal but we were advised it wouldn’t have been successful if we continued,” he said.
There are plans for another four-storey building in Mermaid Beach at 37 Arthur St, which is still before the council.
Mr Vockler said it was this development which saw more than 70 people attend yesterday’s community association meeting at the Mermaid Beach Surf Club.
The usually mild-mannered residents of Mermaid Beach angrily confronted Cr Taylor and Cr Young about the relaxation of theTown Plan.
Comments including “cut the crap”, “you represent us not the developers” and “you make the laws, you can stop it” were made to the councillors by fired-up speakers.
Nobby Beach resident and Division 10 candidate in the 2016 election Mona Hecke said people left the meeting frustrated.
“All they said was that they would take the information and take it back to council,” she said. “Basically they said they were powerless.”
Ms Hecke said residents all along the coast were frustrated with town planning laws, claiming they were unable to get answers to their concerns and insufficient consultation about developments.