Noble Ventures will launch an ‘immediate’ appeal of the decision by the Gold Coast Council to reject its application for a 17-storey retirement village tower.

The Gold Coast Bulletin reports the developer, headed by brothers Daniel and Roger Noble, is now questioning the opposition from Councillor Hermann Vorster.

The proposal would see the tower in a flood-prone area of Varsity Lakes, overlooking Bond University’s Robina campus from Bermuda Street.

Noble Ventures accused Cr Vorster of a conflict of interest, as his wife had worked at Bond University. But Cr Vorster strongly denied the claim.

“My personal interest in the matter was disclosed to my colleagues both in planning and at full council, and in full accordance with the law,” he said.

Council officers had originally recommended approval for the tower arguing flood risks to residents had been mitigated, but the final vote went the other way 13-2.

Noble Ventures believes this is at least partly due to an address from Cr Vorster where he outlined “intolerable risks” regarding community safety.

Daniel Noble told the paper: “Cr Vorster’s arguments against the project in particular we felt were disingenuous.”

“His office made it very clear to us in no uncertain terms that they would not meet with us, at any time, to discuss this development.”

“They said (he would not be available) at any point, ever.”

“To be so violently against our proposal, yet not want to meet with us to discuss outcomes, we found very strange.”

But Cr Vorster has hit back saying he did not “make a habit” of meeting developers.

Cr Vorster countered this, saying: “I generally to not speak with developers, and particularly not during caretaker mode.”