Village row ramping up Developers planning to appeal

PROPONENTS of a controversial retirement village tower rejected by the city council have fired another shot at a councillor and say their fight for approval has only just begun.

Brothers Daniel and Roger Noble, who head Noble Ventures, said they would appeal “immediately” against the decision to block construction of the tower in a flood-prone area at Varsity Lakes.

They have also questioned opposition by area councillor Hermann Vorster, branding his actions “disingenuous”, and say he repeatedly refused to meet them during the application process.

Cr Vorster has responded by saying he does not “make a habit” of meeting with developers.

Before Tuesday’s vote at full council, Noble Ventures accused Cr Vorster of having a conflict of interest because his wife worked for adjacent Bond University.

Cr Vorster strongly denied the claim.

“My personal interest in the matter was disclosed to my colleagues both in planning and at full council, and in full accordance with the law,” he said.

“Council made the decision, it was not my decision, and the vote being 13-2 should give a good indication that council collectively believed the application should have been refused. Council has exercised its duty to make a decision about the development. If the developer feels strongly they should not be dissuaded from making an appeal.”

The 17-storey tower, to be known as Noble Life, would overlook Bond University’s Robina campus from Bermuda St. The 6647sq m site at the edge of Lake Orr was designed to have 121 units and 242 bedrooms, with no nursing home facilities or medical staff in the building.

Council officers recommended the approval, saying risks to residents were mitigated despite flood concerns.

But Cr Vorster outlined what he considered “intolerable risks” to community safety. He referred to residents having to be provided with three days supply for food in case of flood, and their need to access a helipad for evacuation on the top 17th-floor level.

An alternative power source needed to be provided but the application provided no detail of that, he said.

Daniel Noble said on Wednesday: “Cr Vorster’s arguments against the project in particular we felt were disingenuous.

“His office made it very clear to us in no uncertain terms that they would not meet with us, at any time, to discuss this development.’’

He said they had found this “strange’’.

Noble Ventures director Roger Noble said the group had been blindsided by the decision and planned to appeal “immediately”. “Their decision is not planning based, it’s political based,” he said.

“(We’ve been told) we have a very strong chance of appeal. We will not be backing down.”