Fury as wedding bells toll
A GROUP of Gold Coast residents are fighting to stop their suburb becoming the city’s wedding capital, with plans lodged for another venue capable of hosting large nuptials.
The owners of 26B Uplands Dr, Parkwood, want Gold Coast City Council approval to build a wedding venue on rural residential zoned land.
Nearby residents have flagged concerns about koala habitat clearing, noise, parking and other disruptions to their quiet street.
But one owner of the 3.7ha family property where the venue is proposed, Catherine Maloney, insisted “we are doing everything by the book”.
Resident of 45 years, Rick Parry said with at least five other wedding venues in the suburb, there was no need for more.
“There’s ample accommodation for wedding venues within this area,” he said.
Another resident said: “Parkwood is going to become the wedding suburb.”
The landowners want to build a reception venue over the block’s existing tennis court to contain seating, a dance floor and amenities.
According to plans, it would be capable of hosting up to 150 weddings each year, with a maximum of 120 guests, operating from 9am to 10pm Monday to Sunday.
The venue would use the existing driveway, with a new carpark built for guests and suppliers. The carpark is proposed for north of the reception building and would have 23 bays. But plans stated “due to the limited parking available on-site, all guests and suppliers will be encouraged to carshare”. About 500sq m of koala habitat will need to be cleared to make way for the proposed carpark.
Resident of 35 years, Marie Fox said that the proposal was “not in keeping with the residential area”.
“In the local area plan, it says this is the scenic backdrop for the Gold Coast,” Ms Fox said. “If you start putting in wedding venues, it’s not going to be very scenic anymore is it?”
Mr Parry said the council’s own description of rural residential zoned land was about “supporting the rural lifestyle” and it could be used for “shortterm accommodation, farm stays, but not party houses”.
“There’s not much difference between a wedding venue and a party house, noise-wise.”
Ms Maloney said the plans met the council’s standards and criteria, including in relation to koala habitat.
“The town planners who are working on it for us are meeting all of those standards and criteria,” she said. “It’s up high on a hill, it has a beautiful view of the Gold Coast and it is a grand family home.
“It will make a beautiful wedding venue.”
Division 7 councillor Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden said a formal consultation process had been done on the proposal.
“As residents have contacted me, I have heard them out and listened to their thoughts on the application,” he said.
Submissions for the application have closed, with more than 30 received. The council’s planning committee will review the project in early-2022.