Residents in Forest Lake are joining forces against a high-rise developer who plans to build a high-rise retirement village at 5 The Esplanade. The legal battle, which started last July 2018, is expected to cost a substantial amount of money to pay for the services of a barrister who shall contest the developer’s appeal on their behalf.
On the afternoon of 12 Jan, the residents gathered at the ampitheatre for its fundraising meeting. Forest Lake Action Group (FLAG) spokesperson Hamish Krammer hopes that more people will take an active stance against the development.
James Property Group submitted its building plans for the company’s first 8-storey retirement village in Forest Lake to the Brisbane City Council in April 2018. Members of the council, however, blocked the proposal, thus the group’s JRD Number 2 director Jim Dupuis filed an appeal, with some minor changes to the project, with the Planning and Environment Court.
The developer’s modified plan will instead have a 6-storey building. Mr Dupuis emphasised that the retirement village will benefit the community as there are more demands for quality living spaces. He also said that he has a few other developments in mind for the Forest Lake community.
Hundreds of residents have been regularly attending the protest meetings since they have signed on as co-respondents against the appeal. Local solicitor Gregory Huddleston and the town planner Shane Howard have been advising and representing FLAG pro bono. FLAG also has the support of MP for Oxley Milton Dick and Councillor Charles Strunk.
The local community is against the said development since the building “is inconsistent with the Brisbane City Plan 2014 and the Forest Lake Neighbourhood Plan,” the petition underscored. The building will also apparently block the view from the lake, which may impact the residents. The excessive height of the proposed retirement village might also set a pattern for more high-rise developers to construct buildings that may ruin the landscape and architecture of the community.
However, Mr Dupuis downplayed the feedback from the residents by stating that there will always be complaints. FLAG, however, is still rallying up more residents to sign as co-respondents.