Like GCCC Planning Officers, I object to the lack of compliance of a proposed 20 storey building within Southport's Precinct 3 - Garden Residential. The developer cites that this area has no historic significance, despite Bauer St being the historical centre of Southport and the location of the 1901 overseas telegraph communications centre for all of Australia. How much more historic can this be?
Why is the area around Bauer Street not heritage listed? Has this heritage listing been ignored by council? When did the GCCC last heritage list anything on the Gold Coast? I object to losing heritage buildings and precincts through lack of foresight and/or the monetary greed of selling off desirable land occupied by heritage sites to any unscrupulous developer... and I haven't even mentioned land revered by our First Nations people being sold off/given away for trinkets.
I have concerns for the lack of parking in this proposed development. There are 180 proposed residential units and only 137 residential car spaces. This presupposes that 137 residents have only one car. Is it short term accommodation? Is the accommodation affordable or luxury? If affordable, is it presumed that most people can't afford to own a car? If luxury accommodation, does the applicant really think that well-heeled buyers will limit themselves to owning one car - or none - despite having the light rail so close? Do wealthy people really deign to use the light rail?
"HISTORIC APPROVAL: On 21 January 2016, a PDA Development Application for Multiple Dwelling (x133 units) was approved at 20 and 20A Queen Street, Southport (Council Reference: PDA/2015/1194). The development was approved for a building height of 48 metres (15 storeys), which is properly characterised as high-rise development in an area intended for predominantly medium-rise development."
Now we have a developer who wants to blow out the number of units to 180 and the height up to 63.9 metres (20 storeys). I object to this unacceptable height increase when nearby building heights are much lower.
The proposed landscaping is written as "casually refined garden residential". This might be fine when the landscapers finish their job, but what will the building look like in a few years' time when the developer has quietly moved on and the body corporate is responsible for expensive upkeep? Will the neighbourhood be saddled with a tatty unkempt high rise in plain view of all of us and every passing visitor on the light rail? Is this just a marketing gimmick to get past GCCC compliance officers?
Already Queen Street and surrounding roads are chock-a-block with traffic - especially when numerous annual events are held and holiday traffic is heavy. Let's not forget there's a kindergarten about 50 metres away. Street parking is minimal in this area. Where do all the residents park their cars when there are only 137 parking spaces for 180 units?
I presume ChangShen Southport Pty Ltd is a registered company. Is it part of Australia Changsheng Pty Ltd?
