LetteroftheWeek

RECENT opinions expressed in this paper are completely wrong when stating we need highrise to stop sprawl and achieve higher densities.

Inner parts of Paris have a density of more than 20,000 people per square kilometre in predominantly five and six storeys and a 30m height restriction – strengthening rich character, liveability and diversity.

The Gold Coast has an overall density of about 950 people per square kilometre.

As a purely theoretical example, if all humans were gathered around Notre Dame in Paris with the same density as on the banks of the Seine, they would make up a circle with a radius of only a few hundred kilometres. Over centuries, human scale lowrise has proven to be adaptable to changing political and economic times, making the community resilient, and durable. Paris supports continuous activity and retail along the street, making every neighbourhood walkable.

Let’s look at the facts instead of making up stories. Highrise cities don’t necessarily achieve density. For example Dubai has less than 800 people per square kilometre and Barcelona, at eight storeys, houses as many people as New York City at 40 to 60 storeys.

I live on the Gold Coast in an area that has a three-storey height limit. This area could comfortably accommodate 10,000 people per square kilometre with good subtropical design and without overshadowing, wind tunnels and vast empty ground planes. Highrise on the Gold Coast should be contained and not allowed to sprawl, and the liveability, character and diversity of other areas respected. KERRY CLARE, ARCHITECT, PALM BEACH

SATURDAY’s article about the City Plan providing “certainty all round” paints a rosy picture of a flexible, performance-based City Plan delivering greater community benefit. Most commonly, however, the community sees the council approving development applications for 50 per cent higher buildings that still exceed site cover, reduced setbacks and that offer no extra green space for residents or improved streetscape amenity. Often the density is two, three or even four times the density stipulated on the City Plan overlay maps.

The City Plan allows applicants to “earn” up to 40 per cent extra density by providing community benefits. So far has this ever been exercised by the applicants when they can be granted 200, 300 or 400 per cent increases on density simply by declaring that their developments

are “meritorious” ones close to public transport? The city is missing out on community benefits because it has become all too easy for applicants to submit an ambit proposal, lose a floor or two and proceed to an approval without having offered any tangible benefit, nor been subjected to informed scrutiny about the real merits of the development.

The City Plan is neither perfect nor bad, however the interpretation of it is subjective and inconsistent, which offers no certainty to applicant or to the public. PHILIP FOLLENT, FORMER CITY ARCHITECT

I AM thoroughly tired of all the doom and gloom painted by Labor people, pseudo experts and some parts of the media.

New Prime Minister Scott Morrison has vowed to restore sanity to the LNP and to Australian politics. He’s not a miracle worker so it will take time. His new ministry must be given a fair go, something that’s not as Aussie as it used to be.

Losing Julie Bishop was probably not on his agenda but no one’s irreplaceable. And let’s hope Bill Shorten and his MPs stop throwing mud at the LNP and give them a chance to do what’s best for the country. Opening old wounds should have no part to play in politics! KEN JOHNSTON, ROCHEDALE SOUTH