Residents of Brisbane’s most expensive riverfront apartments have accused listed developer Mirvac of changing plans for their exclusive enclave and duping them out of their multi-million-dollar city views.
Multiple owners in the luxury Pier apartment development — which includes Brisbane’s legal and business elite — have lodged objections against proposed neighbouring twin high-rises, arguing that the project is far greater in scale than previously disclosed to them, would block views and increase traffic.
Residents and owners in the landmark block — where prices start at $3 million and have reached $14.25m — include former Wimbledon champion Ashley Cooper, coffee king Dean Merlo, major property developers from the Willemsen Group, Gardner Group, Henzells, Sunland and LJ Hooker, and prominent lawyer Howard Stack.
One owner, who called the building a beautiful and high-quality place to live, said the body corporate was not afraid to take on Mirvac. “Mirvac must regret the day they ever sold these apartments to people like us,” he said. “We’ve been lawyers at 20 paces … since we arrived.”
Some high-profile owners are seething over the proposed development of 283 apartments in 14-storey and 25-storey towers rising from a four-storey podium, when they say the masterplan they bought into featured only one tower and parkland.
News has spread within the building, where residents hold monthly men’s and women’s catch-ups.
Cooper, an Order of Australia awardee whose image was used on a stamp last year, said Pier was a fantastic place to live but his objection was against the “huge change” to the masterplan.
“We wouldn’t be happy with the development as proposed,” he said. “We’re very happy where we are in the development but we would like it to confirm to the masterplan.”
In a separate, unnamed submission to council, a Pier owner said the change was deceptive: “The buyers of the first development were deceived by these developers because had this been revealed at the time of the sales of the first development, it would have compromised sales. “The developer will argue it was just a vision but nevertheless it was (and still is) on the drawings and it was promoted as open space and used to secure sales with premium prices. This sort of deception should not be allowed.”
The new development is part of Mirvac’s almost $1 billion investment in the Newstead area, transforming what was the city’s gasworks into a thriving cafe, shopping and residential area.
Mirvac head of residential development John Carfi acknowledged changes to the masterplan.
“We don’t believe it is a significant departure from what was always going to happen on that site,” he said. “Our view is that no one is adversely impacted (but) we will keep an open mind.”
He said the plans were with Brisbane City Council, which would assess the development.
Real estate agent Brett Greensill, a resident of Pier and principal with LJ Hooker in inner-city New Farm, said it was a wonderful development and he “couldn’t support it more”.
“Someone will always object but the reality is the development as a whole benefits the community,” he said.
Original article published at www.theaustralian.com.au by ROSANNE BARRETT 14/9/16