Queensland residents draws to the attention of the House the recently approved development at Torquay, Hervey Bay. 

On July 24, 2024, Fraser Coast Regional Council approved an eighteen-storey building on the Hervey Bay Esplanade (MCU23/0090 Material Change of Use - Multiple Dwelling, Short Term Accommodation and Hotel. The development includes a 5 storey podium of 110 metres x 90 metres and 2 ‘towers’ totalling 18 storeys high. The planning scheme provides for the relevant zone to have a maximum of 6 storeys or 20 metres, and accordingly the approval is more than three times the height permitted. The proposal fails to comply with the relevant Scheme provisions relating to character, amenity, bulk and scale. The Council has taken into account irrelevant or erroneous claims and has failed to consider its independent peer reviews. The Council could and should have either refused the application or imposed conditions to limit the height to permissible levels. The petitioners consider that there are multiple state interests affected by the approved development including the economic and environmental interests of a part of the state and the serious departure from the FCRC Regional Planning Scheme.

Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to request the Minister call in a development application pursuant to the Planning Act and refuse it or amend it to comply with the Fraser Coast Regional Planning Scheme.