Charity in street fight
Work on new RSL fundraising home upsets locals
TUGUN locals are furious at a lack of communication about the sudden closure and destruction of a section of the Oceanway as RSL Queensland starts earthworks on its next multimillion-dollar fundraising project.
They’re also concerned about the apparent “destruction of the dunal areas” and removal of vegetation in front of the development site.
Luciana Mitchell lives a few doors away from 347 Golden Four Drive in Tugun and noticed earthworks started on Wednesday.
“I noticed the excavation, fencing and the ripping up of the Oceanway and sand dunes and vegetation without any information being relayed to the passing pedestrian traffic or neighbours as to why construction was happening,” she said.
She said the developers “should be challenged on everything they are getting away with via the relaxation of current codes and setting precedents with the approval of certain departments within the Gold Coast City Council”.
Cr Gail O’Neill shared a social media post explaining that the private seawall construction works were expected to take two weeks to complete and that the contractor had obtained city approval for the works and temporary closure of the Oceanway.
She said the works were required to construct a certified seawall in front of the property as required by the property’s development approval and that the contractor would maintain public safety around the site, including appropriate warnings about the closure of the Oceanway.
“The contractor has obtained the required State approvals for the construction of the seawall, including the removal of trees and vegetation within the seawall construction footprint,” she said. There will be no impact on beach users as the works will be contained to the dunal area.
“The works involve the demolition of the Oceanway, excavation of sand, construction of a seawall and the delivery of rock armour via Golden Four Drive. The contractor is required to complete reinstatement works (including Oceanway reconstruction)
and to revegetate the dunes following works.” She apologised for the lack of communication, explaining she’d been told about the works Thursday morning.
Local Jen James said a simple sign on the construction fence at both ends would have prevented “all the angst”.
“Maybe that should be part of the
approvals in the future. This used to happen a few years ago and is required when council works are undertaken,” she said.
RSL Qld head of lotteries, commercial operations, Deborah Pescott said: “Contractors are working diligently to avoid prolonged inconvenience and vegetation would be reinstated.”