Councillors to oppose Currumbin unit block
COUNCILLORS have overuled council officers and moved to protect the Currumbin esplanade by opposing a unit development.
Area councillor Gail O’Neill received the backing of all councillors at a planning committee meeting yesterday in opposing an application for a material-change-of-use for a four-unit development on a 405sq m block in Pacific Pde.
The streetscape near Currumbin Rock is one of the most loved, laidback destinations on the Coast, used by walkers and cyclists competing in the Commonwealth Games and the location each year for the Swell Sculpture Festival.
Officers had recommended approval of the building application subject to conditions, but Cr O’Neill argued strongly against it after residents made 29 objections.
Philip Follent, the council’s first City Architect and Friends of Currumbin executive member, wrote to Cr O’Neill and all councillors warning about the precedent likely to be set by the development.
“I would ask that you all act as champions for the preservation of beach-side character along the Currumbin esplanade as you make an assessment of the application for a five-storey-plus, roof-top amenity space at 780 Pacific Pde Currumbin,” he wrote.
“The local community is quite distressed about the application which, previously at six-storeys, is seen as the beginning of the end of the village appeal of the short – it’s only 100m length – neighbourhood centre zone.”
Mr Follent said residents believed the unit block was non-compliant with the City Plan and would lead to the “potential sterilisation of a vibrant street-side character”.
If the development was approved, it was likely that three other applications on similiar sites would be before council before year’s end, he said.
Officers in their report had noted the proposed building height was five storeys when the required level in the overlay plan was three.
Public submissions had focused on the development exceeding height limits, residential density, setbacks and site cover requirements.
The officers’ report said residents had asked that “the Currumbin landscape character must be retained”.
Residents also raised concerns that earthworks could lead to an increase in landslides given the hill’s steep slope behind the site.
Cr O’Neill told the Bulletin: “The height limit was right but the storeys were wrong, and that just interferes with the visual amenity of that hill. I worry about the stability of the hill. If it was actually built, a geotech engineer would have to oversee that.”
Cr O’Neill said the application had included a rooftop terrace with a gazebo which almost presents a sixth storey. All councillors at full council on Friday will vote on it.
She said she was concerned about a precedent being set given it was likely several older dwellings would be redeveloped during the next five to six years.
“In my opinion that would wreck the visual amenity of that hill. I’ve got eight (votes) here, that’s all you need (at full council),” Cr O’Neill said.