A GROUP of infuriated residents in one of Redland’s most exclusive cul-de-sacs are up in arms over a development approval they say will drastically reduce property values and destroy their streetscape.
Locals of Finuge Court at Point Halloran said they had been deceived by Redland City Council over the development, which will see two double-storey, dual occupancies with two pools erected on their doorsteps.
“At no stage was there any signage erected by the Council advising locals that there had even been a development application lodged, let alone approved,” local Leah Nye said.
“We found out by accident – all we’ve received from Council in response to our concerns are generic responses and the runaround.
“It’s a 614 square metre block. Our research states that a block must be 800 square metres minimum before it’s approved to be split, and now we’ve learnt there will be just eight inches between our fence and the new building.
“It appears Council just rubber stamps everything – it’s purely a money-making exercise.”
Council refuted the residents’ complaints.
“The development application was assessed in accordance with the requirements of the Planning Act 2016, which sets out the planning system in Queensland, and City Plan 2018, which determines the level of assessment and assessment benchmarks,” a spokesperson said.
“Because the lot size was under 800sqm, this required a code assessable development application for a material change of use for a dual occupancy.”
Mrs Nye said she learned about the development through the community grapevine six weeks ago and quickly contacted the Council to voice her concerns.
“We then held a community meeting before we formally wrote to the Council to raise our concerns and we were told we had no right of appeal now the development had been approved,” she said.
RCC confirmed a sign was never erected on the site.
“No public notification signage was required as the development was code assessable, rather than impact assessable,” the spokesperson said. “There is no formal appeal process for code assessable development applications.”
Property records show the vacant block at 11 Finuge Ct was purchased for $745,000 on April 20, 2023.
