General News
12 February, 2024
Village gets approved
A FIVE-storey retirement village at Clifton Beach has been approved by Cairns Regional Council despite the concerns of the divisional representative and residents.
The St John’s Community Care project, on the corner of Clifton Rd and Arlington Esplanade, comprises two towers of 32 units on floors 1-5, totalling five storeys. It was recommended for approval in an officer’s report.
There were more than 20 “not properly made” submissions about the development with concerns including removal of trees, the height of the buildings, increased traffic, little community benefit and restricted views. The application was code assessable and public notification was not required.
Cr Max O’Halloran, who moved approval of the village, said he was concerned the buildings showed a flat roof with no character.
Mayor Terry James said the reason for a flat roof was so the design could add more storeys and therefore more units under the current planning scheme.
He said a pitched roof meant fewer units as the current scheme measured the height from the bottom to the top of the roof.
Cr James said the council needed to return to the former planning scheme so buildings had more personality.
Division 9 councillor Brett Olds said the buildings were “ugly boxes”.
He said in the past the organisation’s nearby five-story building at 89-91 Arlington Esplanade was “accidentally” approved by the planning department when it should have been delegated to councillors.
Cr Olds said a previous proposal for eight storeys of two blocks for 109 units was rejected in 2018 after a long-fought campaign by residents.
He said the community did not want multi-storey buildings along city waterfront esplanades.
Cr Olds said the community had been “duped” in the past.
He said every wet season the road went under and retirement villages should not be built in flood zones.
Planning, growth and sustainability director Ed Johnson said it was designed to protect against any flooding.
He said on the ground level there would be offices, a café and a car park – no accommodation.
Cr Rob Pyne said in the light of recent flood events there would be vulnerable people living in the village and he would not support it.
The development was approved by Crs James, O’Halloran, Rhonda Coghlan, Kristy Vallely, Cathy Zeiger. Against were Cr Olds, Pyne and Amy Eden. Cr Brett Moller declared a conflict of interest.
