Developers of a controversial retirement village tower on the Gold Coast are claiming they spent $50,000 preparing for a “one-in-2000-years” flood risk, only to then have the project rejected despite recommendations for approval from council officers.
As we reported here, Noble Venture’s proposal would see a 17-storey tower constructed in a flood-prone area of Varsity Lakes, overlooking Bond University’s Robina campus from Bermuda Street.
Daniel Noble, who heads Noble Ventures with his brother Roger, told the Gold Coast Bulletin he had tried to negotiate with councillors to avoid a costly appeal.
Mr Noble claims Noble spent upwards of $50,000 preparing for an “absurd” flood risk, which provided modelling for once in-100, once-in-500, once-in-1000 and once-in-2000 year flood possibilities.
“I understand the Q20, Q50 and Q100, but when you go into Q200, Q1000 and Q2000 space, it’s like ‘what for?’,” he said.
“We actually ended up showing designs for how the piers and footings … wouldn’t end up having an impact on the water flow in a flood. I can’t think of any other building that has that. If you look at all the applications north and south of our site, I guarantee they don’t have Q2000, Q1000, Q500, Q200, Q100 modellings done.”
Noble Ventures has appealed the decision in the Planning and Environment Court of Queensland.
