NAG takes marina battle to court

Newport Action Group (NAG) has lodged an appeal against a decision which may lead to a multi-million dollar hotel development in the suburb’s marina.

Residents last week took their six-year battle to the Queensland Planning and Environment Court over a decision by Moreton Bay City Council in November.

Filed on January 10, NAG's appeal is challenging Council's approval for a ‘material change of use’ of more than 10,000sqm of marina land.

As a result, the area, re-zoned as industry in 2016, was switched back to marine industry, residential accommodation and associated uses.

The would help a development application (DA) for a hotel, bar, food and drink outlet, function facility, indoor sport and recreation, low impact industry, marine industry, office, port services, service industry, shop and short-term accommodation.

However, the rezoning was not a green light for development plans - by Josh Kindred, CEO of Kindred Group and owner of Newport Marina - which would still need to go through the full Council approval process.

NAG’s appeal says the proposed development is “inconsistent with the land use under the MBRC Planning Scheme” and “does not support the continued viability of waterfront-based industry”.

It adds the development “will restrict waterfront access for marine industry”, could affect the character of the area and is “not appropriate for the land”.

The eight-page submission also says: “There is substantial community opposition from nearby residents, to non-marine Industry Code Assessable Uses”.

NAG led opposition to the development application which saw 304 public submissions made to council - 38 were in support of the DA.

In a statement last November, council saw an “opportunity to revitalise the area and sustainably regulate future development in the precinct”.

Council's decision in November made any onsite marine industry Code Accessible, increasing opportunity for marine businesses but limiting large industrial development.

The land was earmarked for a marina in 1977 and in 1982 Redcliffe City Council approved rezoning to future high density.

In 1998 consent was given for 64 townhouses, before in 2005 it was zoned special marina and multiple dwellings.

From 2005-2016 it was zoned for mixed residential ... and then marine industry.