Caltabiano & Ors v Brisbane City Council & Australand Holdings Ltd [2004] QPEC 36 [2005] QPELR 060
PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COURT
OF QUEENSLAND
CITATION: Caltabiano & Ors v Brisbane City Council & Australand
Holdings Ltd [2004] QPEC 036
PARTIES: MICHAEL CALTABIANO (Appellant)
v
BRISBANE CITY COUNCIL (Respondent)
and
AUSTRALAND HOLDINGS LIMITED (Co-Respondent)
DENIS HONEN (Appellant)
v
BRISBANE CITY COUNCIL (Respondent)
and
AUSTRALAND HOLDINGS LIMITED (Co-Respondent)
GLENN MILLAR (Appellant)
v
BRISBANE CITY COUNCIL (Respondent)
and
AUSTRALAND HOLDINGS LIMITED (Co-Respondent)
FILE NO/S: 4015/2003 (Caltabiano);
4017/2003 (Hohnen);
4023/2003 (Millar)
DIVISION: Planning and Environment Court
PROCEEDING: Appeal
ORIGINATING
COURT: Planning and Environment Court of Queensland, Brisbane
DELIVERED ON: 4 August 2004
DELIVERED AT: Brisbane
HEARING DATE: 31 May, 1, 2, and 3 June 2004
JUDGE: Judge Alan Wilson SC
ORDER: Appeal dismissed
CATCHWORDS: PLANNING LAW – INTERPRETATION OF PLANNING
SCHEMES – different parts of relevant planning scheme
suggesting different criteria as to height of permissible
buildings – construction of planning schemes
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Cases considered:
Broad v. Brisbane City Council (1986) 59 LGRA 296
Makita (Australia) Pty Ltd v. Sprowles (2001) 52 NSWLR
705
Westfield Management Ltd v. Pine Rivers Shire Council,
unreported, Britton SC, DCJ, 14 November 2003
COUNSEL: Mr Caltabiano (for himself in Appeal 4015/2003 and for the
appellant Mr Hohnen in Appeal 4017/2003 on 31 May 2004)
Mr Hohnen (for himself in Appeal 4017/2003 on 1, 2 and 3
June 2004)
Mr Millar (for himself in Appeal 4023/2003)
Mr T Trotter for Brisbane City Council
Mr D Gore QC for Australand Holdings Limited
SOLICITORS: All appellants self represented
Brisbane City Legal Practice for Brisbane City Council
Connor O’Meara for Australand Holdings Limited
[1] By an order of 21 January 2004 these three appeals and eight others1 were directed
to be heard together. The appellants all objected, on generally similar grounds, to
Council’s approval of the co-respondent’s application to develop town houses, and
three higher residential buildings, on a large parcel of land near Carindale Shopping
Centre. By the time the hearing commenced on 31 May 2004 only three appeals
continued.
[2] The land to which the appeal relates lies between Bulimba Creek and the eastern
side of Westfield Carindale Shoppingtown (‘Carindale’). It is bordered on the
western side by Carindale Street (which separates it from Carindale), in the south by
Winstanley Street, to the east by Surbiton Court and on the northern side by a
retirement village, Caryina Retirement Estate (‘Carinya,). It is described as Lot 11
on RP 185897 and Lots 4, 5 and 12 on SP 113532, and contains 4.12 hectares; and,
is the last area of vacant undeveloped land within the Carindale Major Centre Area
which is defined under the relevant planning scheme, Brisbane City Plan 2000
(‘City Plan’) by Creek Road to the west, Old Cleveland Road to the north, a major
open space corridor containing Bulimba Creek to the east, and Winstanley Street to
the south.
[3] On 9 October 2003 Council approved a proposal for the land involving the
construction of 100 detached and semi-detached two and three level townhouses,
and three medium rise multi-unit dwellings on the Carindale Street side of the
development parcel containing (from north to south) seven, six and five residential
levels respectively, and carparking. It is these higher buildings which have attracted
most attention from the remaining, and previous appellants. By the time of trial the
issues had contracted to:
(a) town planning issues concerning, in particular, the height, bulk and
scale of the medium rise buildings;
(b) amenity issues including visual effects, noise, light and air quality;
1 3978, 4016, 4018, 4019, 4020, 4021, 4022 and 4068 of 2003
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(c) traffic issues generally, but specially concerning the intersections of
Surbiton Court and Winstanley Street, and Winstanley and
Dorrington Streets;
(d) stormwater, and whether the co-respondent’s proposals constituted
“best practice”.
[4] On the first day of the hearing I was taken on an inspection of the site, and to many
streets in the surrounding suburbs and, in particular, to places represented in
photographs which became exhibits2 .
[5] The current development proposal includes:
(a) a Development Permit for a Material Change of Use for Multi-Unit
Dwellings across most of the site apart from a section along
Carindale Street. Those dwellings are generally of two storeys, with
some having three, and they feature a range of designs and
variations;
(b) staging of this component of the development;
(c) preliminary approval for the material change of use for multi-unit
dwellings on the land along Carindale Street, which sets the building
location and height envelope at five, six and seven storeys; and,
(d) preliminary approval for filling and excavation across that part of the
site subject to the Development Permit for Material Change of Use.
[6] Some minor changes have been affected to the plans since these appeals were
lodged3 but they were not the subject of any attack in these proceedings. Indeed, I
did not understand the appellants to have any strong objection to the development
per se, save the proposed larger buildings on Carindale Street.
[7] City Plan contains four components relevant to matters in this appeal:
(a) the Strategic Plan, which is itself divided into three main
components: the Vision, which expresses a broad philosophical basis
for the City’s future development; Desired Environmental Outcomes
(DEOs), and Strategies for the City, defining broad policy directions;
and, Elements of the City which outline the broad land use structure;
(b) area and assessment processes, which identify measures affecting the
regulation of development and attempt to define the ultimate
condition of individual areas, and contain levels of assessment
required for different types of development in each area;
(c) the Carindale Major Centre Local Plan, which contains detailed
guidance on the preferred development outcomes in a particular
locality (and overrides other provisions of the Plan if conflict arises);
and
(d) Code provisions including, relevantly and in particular here, the
Residential Design – Medium Density Code which contains technical
provisions applying to different areas, or types of development.
[8] Both the DEOs and the Vision emphasise the importance of a variety of housing
densities which will help reduce urban sprawl and reduce dependency on4 high
2 A key to the sites and photographs from them is contained in Exhibit 3B, Appendices to the report of
Mr Gamble, architect
3 Particulars are set out in the report of Mr Vann, town planner, Exhibit 10 page 4 para 3.0
4 s 3.5.2.1(a) and 3.5.2.2(d)
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density residential locations5 ; and, in the context of Carindale as one of only seven
“major centres” in Brisbane, an integrated design and function both within the
centre, and between it and its surroundings6 .
[9] Relevantly, Carindale shopping centre contains a large bus terminal at the lower
level on Carindale Street, almost opposite the proposed development, and the DEO
encourages higher density housing in centres with good public transport of this
kind 7 .
[10] City Plan describes Carindale as a “major multi-purpose centre area”, ie an area in
which higher density residential development is encouraged in a way which
“integrates and enhances the fabric of the centre”. The intent for these centres is
identified in their respective local Plans, and the DEO for each of them re-states this
desire, promoting “high densities of residential development … to capitalise on
public transport infrastructure investment”8 .
[11] The area classification, however, puts the relevant land in the Medium Density
Residential Area. Carinya, immediately to the north, is also included in that area
while the balance of the Carindale Centre is included in the Multi-purpose Centre
category. To the east, the parkland corridor along Bulimba Creek is in the Parkland
Area while detached residential areas still further to the east, and the south, are in
the Residential Low Density Area.
[12] Chapter 3, s 5.5 sets out the intent and desired environmental outcomes for the
Medium Density Residential Area as follows:
5.5.1 Intent
Medium density residential areas are located in near city locations with
good access to public transport and centres. Medium density residential
areas will accommodate multi unit development up to five storeys. (my
emphasis)
Under s 5.5.2 “medium density living environments predominantly comprise
medium rise, medium density buildings of no more than five storeys”.
[13] The site is located within the Carindale Major Centre Local Plan boundary and falls
within the Centre Residential Precinct, which includes Carinya. The Residential
Precinct is “to be developed for medium density residential uses to take advantage
of its location close to various centre activities and public transport facilities.”
Development principles relevant to the site (and the proposed development) include:
2.2 The centre is to contain a range of functions that complement one
another and combine to create an integrated mixed use centre, with
strong retail, office, residential, community and entertainment uses, and
high quality public transportation services.
…
5 s 4.4.2.2
6 s 3.4.2.1(e)
7 s 5.2.2
8 Chapter 3, s 7.2.2
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2.5 The centre is to provide a high level of urban amenity, and feature
landscaped buildings and streetscapes. Quality architectural treatments and
landscaping are to reduce the centre’s impact on surrounding residential areas
and also improve pedestrian comfort.
[14] Chapter 4, s 5 of City Plan identifies Code provisions relevant to the residential
precinct in the Carindale Major Centre. The Code touches height and density in
relation to each of the three Centre Precincts. In the context of gross floor area it
provides that building size and bulk must be “consistent with the highly urban
character of a major centre core”. As to building height, it requires that building
size must be “consistent with the Precinct’s highly urban character” and maximum
building height must not exceed “34 m AHD or 10 storeys, whichever is the lesser”.
Section 5.3 contains supplementary performance criteria relating to building height
and, relevantly here, provides:
P2 Building height – building size must be consistent with the Precinct’s
role as a transition area between the centre core and surrounding
residential areas.
A2 Building height within 20 m of Winstanley Street does not exceed three
storeys. (my emphasis)
[15] As the evidence fell out at the hearing and as each of the appellants conducted his
case (including final written and oral submissions) it is apparent the issues in
dispute have contracted further: the primary issue becomes whether the
development complies with the relevant provisions of City Plan and, in particular,
whether the larger buildings on Carindale Street may exceed five stories. Questions
of visual amenity are associated with that issue. Traffic issues also remained a vivid
concern, particularly with Mr Millar, and Mr Hohnen. Other amenity issues –
noise, light and air quality – appeared to pale as matters in dispute, and the question
of storm water management effectively disappeared.
[16] The evidence of a senior hydraulic and environmental engineer, Mr Martin Giles9 ,
which was essentially untested, clearly established that the co-respondents’
proposals for storm water management systems on the site, and disposal into
Bulimba Creek, were acceptable and reflected best practice. His evidence is
persuasive that the issue should be resolved in the co-respondents’ favour.
[17] The same conclusion attaches to evidence from a senior engineer, Mr Paul King,
concerning the amenity issues of noise, lighting and air quality10 . Again, his
evidence seemed to be implicitly accepted by the appellants. I accept his
conclusions that noise levels from persons living in, or traffic associated with the
development will not adversely impact either the Carindale Centre or surrounding
residential areas in an adverse way; similarly, lighting associated with the
development or surrounding streets will have no adverse impact; and, the propesed
higher buildings on Carindale Street would not cause a “canyon” effect between
them and the shopping centre on the opposite side which would impede air flow
patterns in or around that street, or result in adverse disposition of exhaust
emissions.
9 Exhibit 7
10 Exhibit 6
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[18] As to traffic, Mr Millar was particularly concerned about the intersection of
Surbiton Court (on the eastern side of the proposed development, running
approximately parallel to Bulimba Creek) and Winstanley Street, to the south. He
presented a video recording he had made himself, with a lively commentary, of
traffic at that intersection around the morning peak hour. Mr Hohnen was
concerned by the prospect of excessive parking in Winstanley Street, particularly on
days when buses leave directly from the Transit Centre for major sporting events
elsewhere in Brisbane; and, traffic on Winstanley Street generally and at the
intersection of Winstanley Street and Donnington Street, which intersects with
Winstanley Street from the south.
[19] No expert was called about traffic by the appellants but Mr Holland and Mr Beard,
both very experienced traffic engineers, gave evidence for the respondent and co-
respondent and each concluded that, apart from some minor issues which could
readily be solved by adjustment to road layout and markings, and signage and the
like, there were no traffic grounds adverse to the development, warranting its
refusal. In particular, they addressed and satisfactorily allayed any concerns about
matters concerning pedestrian and traffic movement and parking in Carindale and
Winstanley Streets11 .
[20] They were also of the view that increases in the usage of Surbiton Court and
Winstanley Street (including its intersection with Donnington Street) could be
satisfactorily managed within the present road layout, with acceptable degrees of
saturation and queuing. Both saw Mr Millar’s video of the Surbiton/Winstanley
intersection and concluded that it affirmed rather than contradicted their
conclusions. That was an opinion readily acceptable to the lay observer, too; and
their evidence otherwise persuades me the issue of traffic should be determined in
the co-respondents’ favour.
[21] Under City Plan, the Carindale major centre is to be the primary centre serving the
eastern sector of Brisbane. It extends for approximately 600 metres in a north-south
direction, and covers an area of approximately 24.3 hectares. Its main focus is the
Westfield Carindale Shopping Centre, the largest in Brisbane outside the City
centre, containing a range of large department stores and 261 other specialty shops
and retailers, and a cinema complex. The highest part of the shopping centre, the
upper parapet of the cinema complex, is at RL41 metres. That part of the complex
is slightly to the north of the northern edge of the development parcel adjacent to
Carindale Street, opposite the proposed apartment buildings. To the south and also
on the opposite side of that street are multi level car parks rising to RL27.5 metres.
[22] The shopping centre, cinema complex and car parks dominate the landscape for a
considerable distance, particularly to the east and north. During the inspection I
was taken to places in a number of suburban streets on the eastern slopes rising
from Bulimba Creek, and views from all of them affirmed impressions from
photographic evidence that the shopping centre is, as Mr Vann, a town planner,
described it: “an extremely large structure containing a jumble of components of
varying heights and appearance, which combine to make it both dominant and
intrusive”.12 Another experienced town planner, Mr Humphreys, described the
centre in similar terms, which I also adopt:
11 Mr Holland, Exhibit 5; Mr Beard, Exhibit 11
12 Exhibit 10, p.3
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These photographs demonstrate the bulkiness and prominence of the
existing shopping centre within these vistas. The protruding nature of the
shopping centre is exacerbated by the presence of surrounding low-density
residential development, which characterises this part of Carindale. The
experience surveyed by most residents in surrounding streets, is that of a
limited view to the site particularly obstructed by vegetation and
topographical aspects.
[23] The appellants suggested that the view of the car parks from the east was not
unpleasant, their rather stark structural features being ameliorated by vegetation
planted along Carindale and Winstanley Streets but, although an aesthetic judgment
is involved, that conclusion was not borne out on the inspection, which was of
particular assistance. So, too, were photographs and conceptual analyses and photo
montages prepared by an architect, Mr Powe 13 and Mr Gamble, a landscape
architect14 . Mr Humphreys 15 and Mr Vann16 both concluded the medium rise
apartment buildings immediately opposite the commercial centre on Carindale
Street would block out relatively unattractive views to the centre from the south and
east (Mr Humphreys) and screen its unattractive façade (Mr Vann).
[24] Questions of visual amenity are inherently subjective and can be nebulous 17 but the
overwhelming impression here, confirmed by the lengthy inspection and the very
helpful photo montages showing a visual projection of the proposed buildings and
their effect in the “view shed” to the east is one of improvement, by a masking of
the relatively blank, uninteresting and monolithic character of the commercial
centre; and I am persuaded the issue of visual amenity is something which tells
quite strongly for, rather than against, the co-respondents’ proposed development in
its present form.
[25] Mr Caltabiano is a Brisbane City Councillor and conducted his appeal in a
thoughtful and intelligent fashion which placed particular emphasis on the reference
to five storeys in the “Intent” section for the Medium Density Residential (MDR)
area set out in City Plan, Chapter 3. He argued the reference to “up to” five storeys
meant that, on a proper construction of these parts of City Plan, the planning scheme
imposed, or powerfully suggested, a height limit which should not be exceeded.
[26] In the course of his submissions Mr Caltabiano also argued that the co-respondents’
landscape architect, Mr Gamble, had concurred with the proposition that buildings
lower than six and seven, or even five storeys along Carindale Street would provide
a “better vista” but even a cursory reading of the question to Mr Gamble from Mr
Caltabiano which gave rise to the answer upon which the he relies18 shows that the
witness was simply agreeing that sketches and photo montages were only examples
or exploratory designs, and nothing more. In short, I agree with the submission of
Mr Gore QC that no benefit flows to the appellants from this part of Mr Gamble’s
evidence19 .
13 Exhibit 2B, p.26
14 Exhibit 3B, pp. 14, 20-21
15 Exhibit 1, pp. 26-27
16 Exhibit 10, p.12
17 Broad v. Brisbane City Council (1986) 59 LGRA 296 per Thomas J at 299, de Jersey J at 305.
18 T126-127
19 T265-266
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[27] Mr Caltabiano also sought comfort from the parts of City Plan Chapter 4 s.5 which
address height and density in each of the three centre precincts, and the reference to
building height not exceeding 34 metres AHD or 10 storeys, whichever is the lesser.
He contended that the fact the proposed five, six and seven storey buildings would
reach 34, 38 and 41 metres AHD meant the northern most building (where ground
level is at 14 metres AHD) would exceed the MDR code20 by a proportion of 80%.
Properly calculated the figure is less and, in any event, irrelevant, because the co-
respondents’ proposal does not seek to reach anything like 41 metres AHD.
[28] Further, the reference to 34 metres AHD in the Centre Core Precinct is, plainly, an
historical mistake. It is carried over from the 1987 Town Plan and could not have
been intended, for obvious reasons: first, because the lowest part of the shopping
centre is about RL10, there would be no occasion on which 10 storeys would be
possible so the reference to that number of storeys is superfluous; secondly,
compliance would create an oddity in the Centre Fringe Precinct where the building
height might reach eight storeys under an exceptional solution but at the northern
end of the Centre Core Precinct, be limited to six storeys; and, thirdly, there was
power to relax the limit of 34 metres AHD under the 1987 Town Plan21 and it is not
sensible now to couple the 34 metres AHD with an impossible, greater height rather
than a relaxation power for that greater height.
[29] There was also debate concerning the supplementary performance criteria in s.5.3 at
A2, limiting building height within 20 metres of Winstanley Street to three storeys.
The evidence left it unclear whether or not the southern most of the three higher
buildings, of five storeys, encroached upon this 20 metre limit. Mr Humphreys was
adamant it did not22 and Mr Vann said 23 :
The preliminary approval envisages buildings up to five storeys in
Apartment Zone 3, which is within 20 metres of the roundabout at the
intersection of Carindale and Winstanley Streets. To the extent that this
roundabout is considered part of Winstanley Street, this aspect of the
proposal is not consistent with this acceptable solution. However, this is
considered to be a technicality rather than a substantive point. The overall
development involves buildings of only two storeys along Winstanley
Street and these extend more than 20 metres from that street. Proposed
Apartment Zone 3 fronts Carindale Street and is further away from existing
houses on the south side of Winstanley Street than the northern extent of
these two storey buildings along Winstanley Street. It is considered that
this built form outcome would achieve a transition sought by the local plan.
[30] Even if it is assumed the southern apartment building lies within 20 metres of
Winstanley Street (and I do not think that is a safe assumption) the conflict is, as Mr
Vann concludes and I accept, no more than a technical breach in the sense that non-
compliance is not a matter of great moment in regard to the planning scheme.
Should it be necessary to determine whether, despite that conflict, sufficient
planning grounds nevertheless exist to justify approval of that part of the
development, I am satisfied strong grounds are available to the co-respondent,
manifested in these reasons in respect of the amenity issues and, in what now
20 Exhibit 4, p.49
21 Exhibit 15, p.10-80, s.10.3.4.2(e)
22 Exhibit 1, p.31
23 Exhibit 10, p.14
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follows in what I perceive to be strong support for a development of this kind in
City Plan.
[31] Planning schemes like City Plan are not documents which ordinarily attract, or
easily admit, strict construction. The principles have recently be collated by Britton
SC, DCJ in Westfield Management Ltd v. Pine Rivers Shire Council24, and include
the propositions that the planning documents should be construed broadly and with
a sensible, practical approach rather than pedantically or narrowly; as a whole; and,
importantly here, in a way which best achieves their apparent purposes and objects.
[32] There are clear indicia that City Plan does not fix five storeys as the maximum
building height above ground level for this site. Two different analyses support this
conclusion, and were advanced separately by the town planners Mr Vann, and Mr
Humphreys. This court is entitled, but not obliged to accept uncontradicted expert
evidence25 but in the absence of concrete adverse evidence will not lightly disregard
the views of both these witnesses, each of whom has a wealth of experience as a
town planner and whose reports have previously aided this court on many
occasions. That is not to say their views have been accepted without further
consideration, because they involve the construction and interpretation of legal
documents as much as town planning issues; but, rather, I am persuaded that the
experts’ reading of City Plan patently accords with a reasonable analysis of the
relevant parts of it.
[33] First, as Mr Vann said, under the general MDR Code the limit of five storeys is
contained in an “acceptable solution”: A2.326 . Those acceptable solutions represent,
however, only one way of complying with the performance criterion27 and it must
therefore follow that the five storey limit is not immutable. Secondly, the reference
to five storeys in the DEO for the MDR area 28 is, again, not determinative. The
DEO says, only, that MDR living environments will “predominantly” comprise
buildings of no more than five storeys, leaving open the possibility of occasional
excess; and, the reference in P2 to the “intentions for the Area” must refer to the
particular part of the MRD area in question and require, then, an analysis of the
proposal with reference to this particular site.
[34] As Mr Gore QC said in his oral submissions 29 :
And in this particular case this medium density residential area is opposite
a large bulky commercial building different from – we can say with
confidence, different from any other particular site in the city. There might
be other MDR sites which are adjacent to a major centre, be it
Indooroopilly or Toowong … but it will then be a different structure … and
the particular circumstances of that site won’t duplicate the circumstances
… across Carindale Street from the subject site. And it is those very
particular circumstances which justify the conclusion that the two planners
have that these particular residential buildings satisfy the performance
criterion.
24 Unreported, 14 November 2003
25 Makita (Australia) Pty Ltd v. Sprowles (2001) 52 NSWLR 705 at 730; and generally Cross on Evidence
(Australian. Ed) at para. [29075].
26 Exhibit 4, p.50
27 Exhibit 4, p.23
28 Exhibit 4, p.30
29 T254.15-26
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[35] In the alternative, as Mr Humphreys approached the matter the Carindale Local Plan
Code takes precedence over the general MDR Code30 and contains precinct-specific
height criteria and acceptable solutions for each of the three precincts in the local
plan31 . As he pointed out each of the criteria and the acceptable solutions descend
through the three precincts, but the provisions relating to the centre residential
precinct specifically avoid a numerical building height for the entire precinct (save
for the reference to height within 20 metres of Winstanley Street).
[36] It is also relevant that the general MDR Code becomes nothing more than an
acceptable solution for Criterion B1 (and is not, in fact, mentioned at all in P2). As
Mr Vann observed, in an interesting aside, a close analysis of these provisions
suggest that the specific height requirements for the Centre Residential Precinct
may simply be met by a developer who does nothing more than satisfy Acceptable
Solution A2 (ie, limiting building height within 20 metres of Winstanley Street) and
otherwise building heights across the balance of the site are, apparently,
unrestrained.
[37] Both methods of analysing City Plan vis a vis this development proposal traverse
sections of the Scheme which are relevant to the issues in this appeal and, I am
satisfied, show that on a proper analysis the five storey height limit contended for
by the appellants does not prevail, and ought not be imposed.
[38] The only remaining issue concerns the word “transition” in P2, requiring building
size to be consonant with a “transition area” between the Centre Core and the
surrounding residential areas. All the appellants and Mr Hohnen in particular were
concerned that the proposed higher buildings along Carindale Street which abutted,
to the east, much lower buildings on the balance of the development site were not
“transitional” within the true meaning of that word which, rather, should be
construed in a way which suggested a more progressive, and less abrupt drop in
height from, as I understood the questions and submissions, the highest peak of the
shopping centre down to the ground level surrounding Bulimba Creek.
[39] That is not an unsurprising contention, but the photo montages which were intended
to give an approximate visual impression of the likely effect of the proposed
buildings did not jar in the sense the change from higher to lower buildings
appeared to be too abrupt. Rather, I agreed with Mr Vann who said32 :
These buildings have the effect of maximising site density closest to the
major centre facilities and bus interchange, while allowing development on
the balance of the site which is of a height and scale to provide an
appropriate transition to surrounding low density residential areas.
[40] Mr Humphreys put the matter in slightly different, but also readily acceptable terms
in his oral evidence33 :
… It’s a relatively thin element at the end of this rather massive
commercial building, and then it goes down into a lower rise form of
residential development. So it’s a sharp edge if you like which then grades
30 Exhibit 4, p.41
31 Exhibit 4, pp. 41-43
32 Exhibit 10, p. 13
33 T139
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into a continuous area of residential development which achieves a scale at
its edges comparable with that of the surrounding residential areas and a
comfortable relationship with the Bulimba Creek catchment. It’s character
is going to be more articulated and pleasant in appearance than what is on
the western side of Carindale Street and in that respect it is going to be a
suitable transition from what is really a pretty unsightly and massive
commercial complex to an area where a higher value is placed on visual
amenity and pleasantness of place. So that’s the way I am looking at the
question of whether or not a suitable transition has been created between
the Centre Core and the surrounding residential areas and the height is
really quite suitable in achieving that transition. It’s closer to the higher
elements of the centre and lower closest to the low density residential area
south of Winstanley Street. It’s not an overwhelming urban form.
[41] For these reasons, the appeal is dismissed.
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Official source: https://www.sclqld.org.au/caselaw/QPEC/2004/036