LESSONS ON URBAN PLANNING: NO. 101 - "DON'T TURN YOUR BACK ON THE PARK"

A few years ago we excreted a lot of blood sweat and tears planning and
implementing a new walkable traditional neighbourhood development on the
Sunshine Coast. 

This place –  known as the “Town of Seaside”  -  beside the beach just south of Coolum, has a mix of housing types ranging from low density conventional dwellings through to four storey apartments all arranged in a density gradient that places the highest density fronting a civic park at the heart of the neighbourhood. 

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"Town of Seaside": walkable traditional neighbourhood

We were successful in establishing this civic space and completing the higher density development along one edge before our client sold the remaining development property to one of Australia’s major land development companies. 

Development staging

To our absolute amazement and frustration this developer has now constructed a two metre high solid timber fence along a significant part of the other edge of the civic park presumably, intending that his new development should turn its back on this valuable public amenity. 

Going separate ways...........

How can this happen ? And why would the local Council approve such a disastrous outcome for the community ?