REDLAND City Council is approving building works at Raby Bay which are adjacent to and in some cases overhanging revetment walls that need expensive repair work.
The Raby Bay Ratepayers Association has written a scathing letter to Mayor Karen Williams, claiming council has incompetently managed canal maintenance and repairs for years.
They say that because of revetment wall failures, a codicil was imposed prohibiting major structures from being built closer than 9 metres from walls.
Despite this, major structures were now being built against and overhanging walls, with the need for adequate setbacks ignored.
“We recently brought this to your attention ... relating to a structure with an overhanging deck being built adjacent to a wall which has failed and slated now for very expensive remediation,” the letter said.
A second project was under way nearby despite the association bringing the matter to council's attention.
Association president Chris Reeves said when his organisation raised the issue it received a confusing “yes minister” response from council.
Mayor Karen Williams said council must approve works if an applicant could demonstrate that the development was consistent with planning provisions.
“An application within 9 metres of a revetment wall ... must demonstrate that the development will not have an impact on the structural integrity of the wall, will maintain amenity and not affect legal public access,” she said.
Cr Williams refuted that there had been poor management.
“In fact council has been proactive in trialing innovative new methods to reduce costs for canal residents and has been working closely with RBRA for several years,” she said.
The association says members were told at a meeting with senior council staff that the planning overlay for works would be removed.
“A sixteen page document is to be replaced by a one paragraph advisory note,” the letter says.
They said the overlay needed strengthening, not removal.
Cr Williams said that under the draft city plan, a different approach would be taken by projects within 9 metres of a revetment wall being assessed under a building rather than planning application.
This would require the structure meet Building Code of Australia requirements. The daft City Plan also included a note to emphasise to building certifiers that they should obtain engineering certification.
Asked who would pay in the event of a structure failure, Cr Williams said it would depend on the individual details and circumstances.
Canal residents have also asked for a corporation to be set up which would be solely responsible for Raby Bay canal management, with its own engineering specialists.
Cr Williams said no special Raby Bay office would be set up, as canal management was a whole of city issue.
