Lifestyle resort heads to court
A PROPOSED retirement facility has hit a hurdle with neighbouring residents taking legal action.
A development application for the 90-home over-55s lifestyle resort on Torrisi Terrace was approved by Southern Downs Regional Council in December.
Developers, JVY Group, headed up by national sales manager and former Stanthorpe girl Dianne Fielding, said the facility would "rival any lifestyle resort in the big city”.
When passing the development application, council imposed 32 strict conditions on the resort.
Despite that, concerned residents say the conditions don't go far enough.
Members of the Marino family have filed a notice of appeal in the Planning and Environment Court, seeking to have the development application refused.
Prior to council passing the DA, the family had written to council voicing their concerns.
"We do not believe that the applicant's consultant team has adequately addressed the issues associated with the urban development of this vacant site,” a written objection reads.
"If not appropriately addressed as part of the submission and the council's assessment, we feel that this will have negative impacts on the area long-term, and adversely affect the development potential and appeal of the low-density residential area.”
The objection also cites issues with stormwater and over-development.
"The applicant has sought to justify the extent of the non-compliance through a performance based assessment which, in our opinion, has not been adequately justified through suitable alternate solutions or relevant planning performance justification,” the letter reads.
At yesterday's council meeting, councillors voted in favour of delegating power to council CEO David Keenan to engage legal counsel.
"There will be costs associated with engaging legal counsel and expert witnesses,” council's February 27 business papers read.
"The extent of costs will depend on whether the matter is settled through mediation or proceeds to a hearing.”
JVY Group's Dianne Fielding said she was hoping the legalities would be resolved promptly.
"I'm hopeful that the matter is resolved quickly so we can move towards providing the lifestyle resort to Stanthorpe as previously quoted in the Border Post,” she said.
