IN A series of heated and volatile meetings the Director of Living Gems, Adrian Puljich, attempted to address residents’ concerns over the proposed development in Kidd Street.
Adrian assured 100 people attending the three meetings that he would take on board their feedback and comments made on social media and make amendments to the plans currently under MCU24/025.
However, he also stated that dissenter’s voices were often the loudest and that the numbers raising their concerns at the meetings were not representative of 8000 odd residents.
He said he strongly believed there was evidence for demand for such an over 50s lifestyle village on the mountain, however no survey has been conducted.
The controversial 166 over 50s lifestyle homes to be built in Kidd Street is the largest single development ever proposed for Tamborine Mountain.
Some Kidd Street residents held back tears as they talked about the close-knit “family” of the street where kids are free to roam and a Christmas street party is held every year, fearing it would be changed forever.
Most at the meetings believed Kidd Street was not an appropriate location for such a development.
Mountain resident, Mark Bradley, who has a history in environmental and geo-spacial science, attended one of the meetings and raised the issue of water flow under Greisman Drive through the culvert in the plans.
Having done extensive research Mark firmly believes it will be overwhelmed by episodic weather events.
He said based on the schematic, 80% of the land will be covered in impervious surfaces preventing infiltration of water, which will have to find somewhere to escape.
“It will overwhelm the culvert and wash out the road as well as the junction of Geissman Drive and Eagle Heights Road,” Mark said.
“Loss of road access has a knock-on effect to two key routes on and off the mountain.”
He, along with many at the meeting, also believed the development’s sewerage plan is a core issue inadequately addressed.
Mark said when he raised the issues at the meeting, he was told his approach was emotional and rather than address his concerns, the Living Gems representatives criticised him.
Dr Ann Bennett, along with the two other owners of Tamborine Mountain Medical Practice, requested a meeting with Adrian to raise their concerns about the practices’ inability to provide medical services for the increased number of older people.
“The influx would be very hard for us to provide adequate medical care to 300 odd people who could have complex medical concerns,” Dr Bennett stated.
However, she said instead of providing them with evidence of how Living Gems would address this issue he was more concerned with selling them, all over 50, a house.
“We have been advertising for doctors for years. It is always precarious the supply of doctors up here,” she said.
“There needs to be some solution for older people, but I’m not sure this is it.”
Adrian said ageing in place is part of the core model, with the average age of residents 70, external care providers would be employed to provide on-site care.
This would increase the number of workers travelling up the mountain every day, something Councillor Amanda Hay was also concerned about.
Adrian said they were also working on plans to widen Kidd Street and provide a footpath.
The construction period will last four years, causing considerable disruption to Main Street as well Kidd Street.
Amanda said it was pleasing to hear the developer was willing to revisit their application based on community feedback.
“We will wait and see what happens,” she said.
Public submissions can be made directly to Council during the public submission period.
