The Main Beach Association

PRESIDENT’S REPORT 2022/23

Your Committee continues to work very hard to uphold our goals:

• to actively maintain the Main Beach environment as a liveable and thriving community
• to promote responsible development by liaising with Local, State and Federal Governments and other interested parties on proposed development in the Main Beach environment
• to work with the Gold Coast Waterways Authority and other community organisations to ensure that the Spit Masterplan is implemented in the best possible way

Planning disappointments
Although the Treasurer’s Report for the 22/23 showed reduced spending, this was in no way an indication of lack of activity. As usual, planning issues were at the forefront, particularly with the huge amount of construction taking place in Main Beach. There were certainly unexpected disappointments, particularly with Council’s rejection of the La Mer and the Lark development applications being overturned in the Planning and Environment Court. Another major cause for concern has been Steven Miles’ rejection of the very minor improvements proposed in Council’s Amendments to the City Plan. It seems clear that the development industry has very successfully lobbied the State Government into believing that the current housing crisis justifies no improvement in setbacks, site coverage and density. This undue influence was very clearly demonstrated in the Housing Summit of 2022, which has led to the Body Corporate and Community Management Amendments Bill, due to become law before the current session of Parliament ends.

The BCCM Bill —the 75% rule
When the draft Bill was introduced in August 2023, the MBA quickly realised the potential for even  worse overdevelopment in Main Beach. This is due to many sites in prime locations that could become vulnerable to vastly more intensive redevelopment. We spent many hours updating our earlier survey of every site in Main Beach and discovered that although many buildings are over 35 years old, they have been generally very well maintained. We were pleased to find that the orange and red map we had commissioned in 2021 was remarkably accurate.
We prepared a detailed submission to the Parliamentary Committee investigating the Bill and were very ably represented at the public hearing by Deborah Kelly.
Fortunately the demand from the property industry for no qualifications on the 75% threshold failed—in fact the Committee saw through their self-interested claims. We were still very relieved that the Bill does include protections for owners who do not wish to sell out of a building that is still economically viable. We will be watching with great interest to see if and how the new legislation will impact Main Beach.

Improved relations with City of Gold Coast
Thanks to the excellent coverage we receive in the Gold Coast Bulletin, the ABC and the local TV channels, most Main Beach residents appear to be well aware of our hard work. I’m often congratulated by Main Beach residents who are not members of the MBA.
Since the new CEO and Chief of Staff joined Council, not to mention Mark Hammel as chair of the Planning Committee, there has been a very noticeable increase in community engagement in planning matters. For example, the MBA were invited along with developers and other stakeholders to attend a very well run workshop in September this year in the lead up to the new City Plan, due in 2026.
I took part in a round table on the Light Rail Overlay—the cause of so much inappropriate development and a key reason why so many Council decisions are being overturned in the Planning and Environment Court. I was also involved earlier in the year as part of the Community Alliance’s attendance in a mediation session between Council and the State Government over the Amendments to the City Plan.Of course a key part of community engagement is Darren Taylor’s very well attended bi-monthly Community Collective meeting.
Darren will tell you about some of the recent discussions, including parking restrictions, Lime bikes, Helitours operations, AJ Hackett and of course extensions to the Jack Gordon off-leash dog park.

Privatisation of public land on The Spit
The MBA, along with other community organisations, seems to be engaged in a constant battle with the Department of State Development over protecting our public assets. For example, in encouraging AJ Hackett to develop a commercial bungee jump at Philip Park, senior bureaucrats displayed their ignorance and arrogant disregard for public opinion. Unfortunately this seems to be a pattern of behaviour from Steven Miles’ Department.
After we, Save Our Broadwater and Friends of Federation Walk had expended considerable time and expense in running a campaign against an AJ Hackett bungee jump at Philip Park, the Department were belatedly informed by the Department of Natural Resources that such a use was not permitted due to the zoning of the area under the Land Act. AJ Hackett also have every right to be aggrieved at the incompetence of the Department.

The battle for the future of the marine-based businesses on The Spit
We are very concerned about the Department of State Development’s desire to monetise the leases on The Spit, particularly the area of Carters Basin where the Fishermen’s Co-op is located.
There seems to have been a distinct change in the rhetoric of the Department. Whereas previously they took into account public benefit, they now seem intent on squeezing every dollar out of the leases on The Spit to the detriment of these businesses that are so important to the tourism mix on the Gold Coast. The Fisherman’s Co-op and some of the businesses being displaced by the redevelopment of Mariners Cove are members of the MBA and we are doing everything we possibly can to help them secure a permanent base at Carters Basin. Council and GCWA are doing everything they can to help, but unfortunately the Department of State Development as owner of the leases holds all the cards. We have been informed by Steven Miles’ staff that they are doing their best to secure a home for these businesses at Carters basin but we are yet to be convinced that the land being offered will be large enough and affordable enough for these businesses to continue to be viable.

The Spit Stories project
While pleased to have been invited to take part in this project, along with other key organisations, we have been deeply disappointed by the whole process, including having a Sydney-based group with no local knowledge winning the tender to run the project. This would appear to be in conflict with State Government ‘local benefit’ guidelines. Once again, we have Brisbane-based bureaucrats thinking that they know better than local experts.

Acknowledgements
I would like to thank members of the Committee their efforts. In particular Peter Young, our treasurer, has done a great job as has our secretary, Lydia Astill who has ably managed the administration of the Association and keep posting relevant articles on our Facebook page.
We must also acknowledge the expert input and support of John Hicks, president of the Gold Coast Community Alliance. John’s efforts in making a major submission to the SE Queensland Regional Plan have been outstanding. MBA also made a submission.
Thanks to John Paul Langbroek and his office for advice on Parliamentary matters, particularly on the BCCM Amendment Bill. We are also very grateful to Darren Taylor for his prompt responses to community concerns. And as usual we must show our gratitude to Lia and Dave Hutley for their loyal support of the Association.

Sue Donovan
President