Gurner development greenlighted
Unanimous Councillor vote
The proposed multimillion development on the 69-73 Murphy Street site overlooking the Esplanade, which developer Tim Gurner publicly stated he would never give up on, has been given the green light by the Douglas Shire Council.
This comes after a revised DA was lodged with significant changes made to the design. According to documents submitted to Council the development comprises four luxury holiday homes which are accessed via a common driveway extending from the unconstructed road reserve adjacent Jalun Park.
The development involves constructing an access driveway within the unconstructed road reserve which connects the site to Macrossan Street.
The buildings at the rear are similar in elevation to the existing buildings along Murphy Street.The development has been reduced in elevation to address concerns raised over building height and visual amenity in addition to achieving better outcomes with respect to vehicle access.
Unanimous decision
Tim Gurner’s ‘love project’ finally had every Councillor feeling the love and raising their hands in support of the development today at the ordinary meeting of Council. This has been a controversial project from the start, with a band of concerned locals even creating a website to oppose it. The Protect our Paradise group said at the time it would have a negative impact on the iconic Four Mile Beach and Esplanade, ruining Jalun Park. Initially the main objection was to its height and the development was described by some as a high-rise blight on the town. That argument doesn’t hold water now.
Newsport spoke to Mayor Michael Kerr about this development breakthrough as well as a range of other issues on the agenda today at Council though our video coverage.