Tower plan to ‘create canyon’

VETERAN councillor Gary Baildon fears the beach at Main Beach will be covered in shadows if a new tower is approved at council next week.

Councillors on the planning committee yesterday overwhelmingly backed a recommendation by officers to approve a 20-storey tower on Main Beach Pde just south of Woodroffe Ave.

The application for the 63mhigh building and 55-unit development on the slender 1261sq m block will be considered by all councillors at a full council meeting on Tuesday.

Residents say the site is in an unlimited height zone and if council ignores the restrictions deemed by medium-density zoning it will open the gates for towers in the area.

After more than 120 people wrote objections to the project, Cr Baildon yesterday spoke passionately against the proposal. He was supported only by Hinterland councillor Peter Young.

The Main Beach Association fears he will not get the numbers at full council and a tick for the project is likely to forever change medium-density zoning in beachside suburbs.

The community group’s prediction is that given unlimited heights, the nearby light rail and approval of higher density, super towers from the South- port surf lifesaving club south to Narrowneck will eventuate.

Cr Baildon told councillors the proposed development was 3½ times the maximum density nominated in the planning scheme for the site.

“Excessive density will impact upon the adequacy of council infrastructure for the area, including water, sewage, public open space and traffic,” he said.

“The building design is in conflict with the unique built environment of Main Beach of highrise buildings in extensive landscaped grounds.”

Cr Baildon said the building would create more shadows on the beach than those around it and the parking provisions were unworkable, leading to more on-street parking.

“We are creating canyons in our city, shutting out the very thing that we are known for – sunshine. Take away sunshine and what do we have left?”

But planning committee chairman Cameron Caldwell, supported by Robina councillor Hermann Vorster, noted the application was not contrary to the City Plan.

Cr Caldwell told Cr Baildon: “The reality is we as a city are famous for our highrises.”

Main Beach Association leader Dave Hutley said the council’s decision meant medium-density living was “utterly destroyed” on the beachfront.

He said the council had ignored the 120 objections.