Port Of Airlie Apartment Complex Approved, Councillor Warns “Be Careful”

A brand-new multistorey apartment complex at the Port of Airlie has been approved by Whitsunday Regional Council at last week’s council meeting.

Councillors voted on the three apartment blocks that will be three to four storeys high and comprise 52 dwellings, granting Port of Airlie owners Meridien preliminary approval to exceed the statutory 12-metre height limit for Airlie Beach.

Councillor Jan Clifford was particularly frustrated by the building heights that “didn’t comply with the town plan.”

“All the nice little carrots they promised the community about a cinema and a bowling alley, they’re gone,” Councillor Clifford said.

“The community did not have an issue with the original concept for the Port of Airlie, but they certainly do now and so do I.”

Councillor Clifford and Councillor Al Grundy were the only dissenting voices in the meeting, both voting against the proposal.

Councillor Grundy said that he had “major concerns of traffic, transportation, housing and how the vision for the area matches with the broader visitation expectations Airlie Beach offers and has today.”

“My message is just be careful, be careful with the growth,” he said.

The complex is set to be built on a vacant lot on Port Drive as part of the contentious Port of Airlie Development which has seen strong opposition, particularly from Save Our Foreshore, a group directly opposed to the development’s high-rise construction.

Councillor Mike Brunker said that Airlie Beach has “got to evolve” and that people were against the original Port of Airlie when it first arrived too.

“I think it’s a gradual evolution and people want to live in paradise and for nothing to change, but it has to be a gradual evolving,” he said.

Mayor Andrew Willcox was one supporter of the development, stating that the proposed building height is still actually lower than the existing Port of Airlie buildings.

Meridien produced a Visual Impact Analysis to dispute the building height objections.

“The conclusions from the VIA are accepted in that there will be a minor to moderate local view impact and from a regional context there will be an extremely limited visual impact,” the report sent to Council reads.

Meridien’s report also stated that restricting the building’s height would result in the loss of six three-bedroom apartments and housing, which would “continue to restrict choice and the capacity to meet the needs of residents seeking an Airlie Beach lifestyle.”

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