Green light for "hidden gem" development

Above: Artist's impression of the proposed apartments in Captain Cook Pde, Deception Bay. Image Jackson Teece

Plans have been approved for 95 new apartments on a foreshore block in one of Moreton Bay's “hidden gem” suburbs.

Moreton Bay City Councillors unanimously backed the proposal at 7 Captain Cook Pde and 5 and 7 Wallin Ave, Deception Bay.

The development application (DA) will see three buildings – one three storeys high and two with six storeys – on the 4785sqm site.

When complete, there will be 3 one-bedroom units, 51 two-bed units, 39 three-bed units and 2 four-bed units, with parking for 101 cars.

Mayor Peter Flannery, ex-councillor for Division 2 which includes Deception Bay, said two previous DAs had been approved for the block but “not acted upon”.

“It’s great to see there’s some investment and encouragement on that site again, because it’s a hidden gem to me … Deception Bay,” he said.

“I hope once that secret gets out through this project … it’s going to see a huge increase in land valuations in Deception Bay.”

Concerns were raised over parking, traffic, building heights and drainage/flooding, as well as access to public transport.

Cr Sandra Ruck (Div 5) said a bus route had been “taken away” from the area which is “actually the hub of Deception Bay”.

“That is the centre of Deception Bay,” she said. “That area is the cultural centre, the hall is there, the neighbourhood centre ….”

Deputy Mayor Jodie Shipway said “we need strong advocacy around this” and Cr Karl Winchester (Div 6) said it “sounds like a bring-back-the-bus campaign”.

The planned buildings were just over the maximum height due to the lift overrun but Cr Ruck said DAs were “often approved” in such circumstances.

Fears of on-street parking were “understood” by Cr Ruck but she said 101 spaces met requirements of the planning scheme the DA was assessed under.

Parking allocations in the two previously approved DAs were for 90 spaces (2013) and 42 spaces (2016).

A Traffic Impact Assessment, submitted by the applicant, also showed the plan is “not anticipated to have an adverse impact on the surrounding road network”.

Cr Ruck raised the issue of flooding and delays to “the delivery of an upgrade to the storm water channel that runs parallel to Wallin Ave”.

But the meeting was told flood modelling, carried out by the applicant, showed the development would not “trigger thresholds” or “adverse off-site impacts”.