Polling indicates majority in favour of Fairmont project
Newspoll Results
A recent Newsport poll has revealed that 64.98% (386 respondents) have voted in favour of the proposed $300 million Fairmont project going ahead, while 32.32% (192 respondents) believe it’s too far outside the Planning Scheme.
A further 2.69% (16 respondents) were unsure in the poll which attracted a total of 594 people.
This project took centre stage at Tuesday’s Open session of Council when the Mayor and the four Councillors voted unanimously to endorse the Town Planners’ recommendation to ‘refuse’ the project.
Following the announcement, Council said in a statement that Councillors have encouraged the developer to address its development application which has 18 points of non-compliance.
“Douglas Shire Council today unanimously decided to refuse a development application for a 253-room resort complex due to significant non-compliance with the bulk, scale, facilities provision, and character of the proposal when assessing it against the 2018 Planning Scheme.
“The Councillor decision followed multiple discussions between Council staff and the applicant in a bid to reach appropriate changes to the development.
“The application sought approval for the resort with 253 rooms, food and drink outlets, function facilities, basement car parking and recreation facilities configured within a single building at up to six storeys in height,” it said.
Developer reacts
The decision sparked a sharp reaction from developer Paul Chiodo, who said “Douglas Shire Council is closed for business” and has a “total disconnect with the community”. He said he would be taking the matter to the Planning and Environment Court.
Newsport readers have also expressed their opinions.
One reader said: “I think this development would be a good thing for Port Douglas and the Shire, and find it hard to understand how, at this late stage, after many millions of dollars have been spent on site remediation by Chiodi, that all of a sudden we have "18 points of non-compliance".
Council should share this issue of non-compliance with the community, to both support the stand they have taken if it is justified, and to allow the community to make up its own mind on the facts.”
Another said: “There are enough massive hotels in Port Douglas already. I think they made the right call here. (Thank you). Personally I think they should convert that site into a recreational area of some kind. (not sure what though). Alternatively, if the developers submit a scaled back version with a far more environmentally friendly discreet footprint I might consider changing my opinion. Don't let Port Douglas suffer the same fate Byron Bay is currently suffering.”
18 Planning Grounds
The town planners have based their findings on 18 planning grounds, some of which include:
(1) The proposal conflicts with Strategic Intent Reinforcing Douglas Shire’s Sense of Place and Identity as the Development represents an over-scaled and over development of the site that has little local context or character.
(2) The proposal conflicts with Theme 4- Strong Communities and Identity from the Strategic Framework, in particular the proposal does not maintain the distinctive character and unique sense of place that represents Port Douglas.
(3) The proposal conflicts with the Overall Outcomes of the Tourist Accommodation Zone Code;
a. The proposal is not of an appropriate scale; and
b. Does not achieve an attractive built form which incorporates the character of the site and surrounding area.
(4) The proposal Conflicts with Performance Criteria P01 (Height) of the Tourist Accommodation Zone;
a. The height of the building and structures is not in keeping with the residential character of the area.
(5) The proposal conflicts with the Performance Criteria P01 (Setbacks) of the Tourist Accommodation Zone;
a. The setbacks of the proposal do not maintain the character and amenity of the area.
You can read the report from the town planners including the 18 points of non-compliance (starting on page 2 of the PDF) by going to Douglas Shire Council's website, expanding the 28th September meeting and clicking item 5.2 (Material Change Of Use For Resort Complex At 71-85 Port Douglas Rd Port Douglas-compressed).
The proposed 253-room resort is regarded among the biggest development in Port Douglas since Christopher Skase made his presence felt in the 1980s and is being developed on the old Havana project – situated between Oaks Hotels and Resorts and the Mirage Country Club.
Further reading can be found here:
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