Property Don't miss out on the headlines from Property. Followed categories will be added to My News. Southern Gold Coasters have responded in outrage after a judge’s decision to green light a 18-storey tower in Palm Beach saying “the concrete canyon is now a reality”.
Planning and Environment Court Judge Michael Williamson recently defied Gold Coast City Council and 1863 other objectors and approved the redevelopment of The Collective site with a high-rise. Council had previously rejected the proposal with 95 per cent of submissions opposing the tower. Artist impression of the Collective development from S & S projects in Palm Beach on the Gold Coast.
Judge Williamson dismissed the views from opponents to the development that Palm Beach had a “village feel”. “It was suggested during cross-examination that, in character terms, the Palm Beach district centre exhibits characteristics of a village, or has a village feel,” he said. “I do not accept this is a fair characterisation of the existing character of the centre.
It does not have, nor does it exhibit, a village character. “This is, in large measure (because) the district centre was not a village given its size, highway orientation and feel/identity/sense of place derived from existing built form. “These matters do not exhibit a village character or village feel.
With respect to the natural environment, the suburb of Palm Beach is surrounded by the beach, coastal edge and natural landscape features. The .