October 11, 2017
A decision to approve a 51-unit relocatable home park at the corner of Buckingham and Logan streets in Kingaroy provoked debate at the South Burnett Regional Council’s monthly meeting on Wednesday.
Councillors were told the ‘Kingsgrove Living’ retirement complex contravened the Kingaroy Shire IPA Planning Scheme, and 34 submissions objecting to the proposal had been received from residents living nearby.
However, officers recommended Council vary the Kingaroy Shire IPA Planning Scheme to allow the development to proceed.
Cr Ros Heit disagreed.
“I’m certainly in favour of good development, but it’s important we scrutinise each and every development to ensure it’s appropriate and in the best interests for the future of Kingaroy and our region,” Cr Heit said.
“This development conflicts with the Planning Scheme and it is for us to decide if we should override the planning scheme to allow it.”
Cr Heit said three key issues to consider were that the two-storey complex would be located next to single-storey 800m residential blocks and 4000m rural residential blocks; that high density housing conflicted with community aspirations for a “country lifestyle” atmosphere; and the effect that 51 low-cost housing options would have on the local real estate market.
Cr Heit said she was concerned that if the development went ahead, it would conflict with the Desired Environmental Outcomes of the former Planning Scheme.
These were that any development would provide a benefit to the community; that it would maintain the existing and planned character and amenity of the area in which it was located; and that it would protect the scenic value of the region’s natural landscapes.
“In my opinion this development contradicts all three of these desired environmental outcomes, and that’s why I won’t be voting for it,” Cr Heit said.
The Council’s Planning Manager Chris Du Plessis was asked to explain to the meeting why officers thought the Planning Scheme should be varied.
Mr Du Plessis said officers recommended the development be approved because the type of retirement complex Kingsgrove Living developer Rob Burgess proposed to build had not been in existence when the Kingaroy Shire IPA Planning Scheme was adopted in the early 2000s.
“This is not the type of approval that we see every day,” he said.
However similar developments now existed in several other Queensland coastal regions, and seemed to be operating without any problems.
In addition, while the location where Mr Burgess proposed to build was predominantly residential, it was located in one of the town’s newer subdivisions where smaller blocks were the norm.
That subdivision was home to a number of duplexes as well as the Canowindra residential care facility, so there was already some high-density living occurring there.
Finally, Mr Du Plessis said the Kingsgrove Living complex would operate under an arrangement where the developer retained ownership of the land and retirees purchased one of the 51 living units, then paid a “management fee” to cover their share of the rates and maintenance of the common use facilities.
Far from being a “low cost” housing option, buying into the complex would require a substantial investment.
When the proposal was put to a vote it was passed 5 to 2, with Councillors Ros Heit and Danita Potter opposed.
- Related article: Meeting Gives Retirement Complex A Cautious Thumbs Up
