Some latest news on the 'Irony' front
Phone 07 3371 9355 or Email
10 September 2004
Irony developments etc. by Michael Yeates...
Those of you living locally to IRONY will notice a transformation occurring
... the red iron is coming off and the wonderfully intact house is emerging
... a bit like a butterfly emerging from a grub!
It has been something of a grubby story ... and an interesting example if
not case study of how Council's planning strategies and policies can be
manipulated by Council.
Many local residents reached the stage of claiming IRONY in its red iron
sheeting was an eyesore and were asking for it to be removed ...
FORTUNATELY, that did not happen but it could have .... so easily ...!
There have been a series of applications each seeking further concessions
which I understand was originally NOT supposed to be allowed. This allows
an item by item strategy eg one application can gain permission to remove
some trees, then the next one gets permission to remove a house (as
happened here) then another gets permission to move the remaining house(s)
etc ... whereas in my view, if a developer does not want to proceed with an
approved application, then a completely new application starting from
scratch should be expected. IRONY is an example of what happens with the
step by step applications.
The first issue was the "illegal" removal of the white workers cottage in
Lambert Road which in heritage and character terms, had as much value, and
being very scarce in this area, perhaps more value than IRONY. Council
officers decided development of some inevitably ordinary units was more
important ... and we had NO SAY in the matter. When I noticed the cottage
was being removed one Sunday afternoon, and rang Councillor Prentice, I
understand that the Council officer she contacted said he could do nothing
...! The cottage went ...!
The original owner of IRONY is to be congratulated for emphasising the
IRONY that Council actually does NOT want character and heritage protected
if it might reduce redevelopment ...!
IRONY is now on an international website about corrugated iron ...!
It was suggested that, like the example at West End (on the
OurIndooroopilly website), IRONY should be restored and allowed to be used
for office or selected retail uses. That is not permitted by Council.
The "final" approval "required" that IRONY be moved up Clarence Road .. yet
this greatly reduces the conservation/heritage value of a building (ICOMOS)
... so that instead of the preserved IRONY on the corner, we get yet
another "ordinary" block of units.
I lodged an objection to that approval but given the cost, could not
proceed. However, the problem that then emerged was for the developer not
"stuck" with two existing houses up Clarence Road and only able to be used
as residences.
A prospective "white knight" (we'll wait until the work is finished to see
whether this title should be bestowed) has emerged to restore the two
houses. BUT ... only on the condition that IRONY is moved to where the
existing house is, and it moves downhill. OTHERWISE, the "white knight"
said he was not interested. As the only objector, and after some
consideration and seeing some other work done by our "white knight", I
agreed to the idea formally and that I understand is where it is at ... at
present.
We should get IRONY restored although (being a corner house designed for a
corner block), it will clearly be in the wrong location. And secondly, the
sequence of the houses may well be totally wrong ... but if Council won't
support character and heritage protection in a genuine and codified manner,
what else can we do?
1. Please keep a close watch on IRONY in terms of how well it is being
treated ... especially the "very" locals ... many of whom have experience
in restoring and preserving similar houses.
2. PLEASE request Cr Prentice to put in place a local "reference group" or
similar such that we can develop a more cohesive community policy in regard
to what type of development might be acceptable in our area(s), and what
will be opposed.
3. Please keep everyone else informed about what is happening eg the
Maternal and Child Welfare "house" in Coonan Street and Keating House
opposite the Indo hotel remain in the balance, and Railway Avenue, while a
strip of character houses, is clearly being destroyed by Council - see the
3-4 storey units jammed onto the block between the character houses
opposite the railway station!
Two other items ...
It seems to me (with 30+ years in the building industry) that Council is
being INCREDIBLY generous in allowing builders to close footpaths and to
use the footpaths for sheds, materials, car and truck parking, etc but
WITHOUT providing a safe alternative route for pedestrians.
It appears (some) Councillors also support this "policy" as complaints have
been ignored. This is a SUBSIDY to the builders as well as a major public
risk issue for Council ... although obviously not as great a risk as being
hit by a golf ball ...
Two particularly bad examples are in Central Avenue at the top end, one
being built, the other just completed. Interestingly, the result of one of
the projects (at the corner of Rennie Street) is a bus stop that looks as
if you cannot get to it in a wheelchair ... very strange when all such
public infrastructure is supposedly to be accessible ... if only from the
road where footpaths are steep ...
and bearing in mind that the 417 route is still the only local bus route
that is "accessible".
I shall check it out in more detail and if necessary, forward it to Council
with a suggestion for its reconstruction.
The last item ...
As some of you may know, the BATT organisation now appears to hold control
of BOTH sides of the intersection of Indooroopilly and Harts Roads ... a
total of 9 houses where there were 2 ... Several people have lodged
submissions (Council won't allow "objections" as residents are PREVENTED by
Council from appealing these small lot subdivisions and house removals) ...
no news yet ...
A strong(er) local WTN RAG or similar could in my view quite reasonably
expect to be invited to discuss such projects ... and we could expect our
Councillors to support such a move ... by Council to gauge local resident's
interests and suggestions, but more importantly, developers could find out
if residents are going to give them a "hard time". Clearly at the moment,
the developers know it is open season while we cannot object.
The Council say that the small lot housing fits into the landscape etc etc
but have a look at the intersection of Graham Street and Harts Road and see
if you can pick the BATT houses ... and see how well they fit into the
existing ie EXISTING, character of the precinct ...!
For more on the issue of small lot housing and the loss of character
housing and the threat to character precincts, see the Walter Taylor South
Action Group website.
Michael Yeates.