Levels of govt united in opposing Lota House development

Wynnum, Manly and Lota communities welcome the strong level of bipartisan Government support to oppose high-rise at Lota House.

The Federal Member for Bonner, Ross Vasta, State Member for Lytton, Joan Pease, and Brisbane City Councillor, Peter Cumming are opposed to the application and  have joined forces to reflect the mood and strong views of the community against a planned high-rise development in Lota.
 
They met with Bayside Action Group (BAG) representatives on Thursday (October 11) at the gates of Lota House.

A 'very rough' recording of the interview is available on Soundcloud. Apologies for all the wind noise.

Anglicare and Village Retirement Group want to build 216 units (2 stages) in eight, seven-storey towers at Lota House, a State Heritage listed site. 
 
More than 100 written objections have been lodged against the current development application.
 
BAG says about 100 trees would have to be removed and a large section of woodland cleared. The height and bulk of the development would dwarf the surrounding streetscape. Lota is a low-rise, low-density suburb.
 
The Lota House site is owned by the Anglican Church and zoned “Community Facilities”. The application is “Code Assessable”. This means Anglicare does not have to consult with the local community when making an application to develop the land. The proposed tower development can be assessed solely by council without the need for public input or comment.  
 
BAG says because of the zoning, the community has been locked out of the decision making process. But if approved the development would bring immediate impacts - more traffic in narrow suburban streets, the destruction of trees in a much loved woodland, loss of street appeal and  overshadowing from high rise towers that would be visible from Moreton Bay foreshore and surrounds.
 
BAG says it’s very encouraged that local members of government have recognised these impacts and are prepared to support their community.
 
The application to build 104 units is currently being considered by the Brisbane City Council.   Anglicare and their commercial joint venture partner Village Retirement Group have until November to respond to the council’s request for more information and details of Anglicare’s future plans for the site.
 
It’s understood another 112 units (also in 7 storey towers) are planned in a second stage facing Moreton Island.

​The towers would be four and five storeys higher than existing residential care facilities on the site.
Village Retirement Group CEO Mr Greg Little was quoted on ABC radio as saying the units, if approved, “will be priced at Manly Medium House Price”
 
Manly Medium House Price 2016/2017 is between $750,000 and $800,000 with a 22%  increase recorded over the past 5 years therefore the units, if built, would be selling for an average price of $915,000 – $976,000.
 
This would put them out of reach for many of the older residents who want to stay in the area and need aged care accommodation.
 
Heritage listed Lota House was built in the 1860s by one of Queensland’s earliest settlers, William Duckett White. It was put on the heritage register in 1992 as a place “of aesthetic significance… that demonstrates the evolution of Queensland’s history”.