A Brisbane judge has dismissed an appeal against the approval of a three-tower complex at the site of the former ABC studios at Toowong.
Dubbed the "champagne flutes" by locals, the Zaha Hadid-designed and Sunland-built Grace on Coronation would include 555 units over three towers and come with a price tag of about $430 million.
Two of the towers would be 24 storeys, with the other 27, but the city plan only allowed for 15 storeys on the site.
Resident Kate Peta Bell launched a Planning and Environment Court appeal against its approval in 2015, which Judge Michael Rackemann dismissed on Wednesday morning.
Related Content
In his judgment, Mr Rackemann conceded the proposal's height did not comply with the area's zoning regulations, but said that was offset by public space around the base of the towers.
"On balance, I am satisfied that there are sufficient grounds, in the public interest, to approve the proposed development notwithstanding conflict with the planning scheme," he said.
Mr Rackemann said Grace on Coronation was in tune with the character of the Toowong precinct.
"Insofar as the character if the area more generally is concerned, it must be remembered that Toowong is undergoing a rapid transformation consistently with the planning intent for that area," he said.
"Its built form is increasingly being characterised by high-rise contemporary developments.
"The proposal will have a distinctive design and be ... refreshing in terms of apartment building design, but that does not make it inconsistent with the emerging and intended character of the area."
Brisbane City Council planning chairman Julian Simmonds said the judgment confirmed the council's 2015 approval to "deliver better public parkland and access to the inner city riverfront" was the right call.
"The local community wanted more open space and permanent public access to this site and that has been achieved by limiting it to three as opposed to five buildings that the applicant is entitled to under planning laws," he said.
"The court's approval of the three building project ensures the community will have access to the majority of the 1.5 hectare site and for the first time open up the 1860s riverfront villa Middenbury House to the public.
"The project will provide an extension of the Bicentennial Bikeway along Coronation Drive to Archer Street through the site to improve facilities for pedestrians and cyclists."
Comment was sought from both Ms Bell and outspoken project opponent Elizabeth Handley, of community group Park in Toowong.
Lord Mayor Graham Quirk has described the design as "striking" and a "one-off design".
However, it was almost identical to Sunland's proposed Mariners Cove on the Gold Coast.
The Grace on Coronation proposal also emerged as an political issue during the 2016 council election.
0 comments
New User? Sign up