BCC Rejects Normanby Tower, Nightclub Development

A proposal by The Normanby Hotel to build a 15-storey development and underground nightclub next to its heritage listed Hotel has been rejected by Brisbane City Council’s City Planning Committee according to The Courier-Mail. 

The building, which would have contained 14 units, a hotel, short-term accommodation, a nightclub and a shop, was planned to be built on the Normanby Hotel's car park.

The committee voted unanimously in favour of opposing the plans.

A council officer raised several concerns with the application, including issues surrounding the public notification process, with increased traffic implications and impact on the surrounding area's amenity top of the list of concerns. The applicant reportedly refused to comply with height recommendations.

City Planning Chairman Julian Simmonds told The Courier-Mail that the height and size of the hotel tower formed the foundations for council’s decision to refuse the multi-unit dwelling and underground nightclub at the Normanby Hotel site.

“Council officers have recommended the application is refused due to the height and size of the hotel tower in what is an area characterised by heritage buildings and tin and timber homes,” Cr Simmonds said.

“The Normanby Hotel has been a local landmark since 1890 and is listed both on council and state government heritage registers.

Councillor Peter Matic had been vocal in his opposition of the proposal and said he had met with residents on several occasions and relayed their concerns to council’s assessment team.

“Residents have been extremely concerned about what the developers want to build — a 15-storey block, across the street from one and two storey businesses and homes,” he said.

Cr Matic said it would also dominate the skyline and be completely out of character with nearby red-brick heritage buildings, century-old terrace houses and Queenslander homes.