It’s fight or flight stuff when it comes to the growing development footprint and consumption of our beloved village airspace.

Steve Holmes

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Today I am wading ankle-deep into the growing turmoils of property development and its impact on the village of Main Beach.

What I am looking to achieve is to lift up, and highlight the word ‘Character’ as it relates to our Villager Community and the villagers (you & I ) within it. The character of Main Beach should be a collective and recognisable community asset. Currently, it is missing in action, much like many other communities that have been divided and conquered by the highly successful march of globalisation. The cost of global leading local has seen the demise of community character and culture. For Main Beach ‘Character’ is now grossly under-utilised, it needs definition and clarity to become an effective and purposeful asset.

SAVE YOURSELF NOW WHY YOU STILL CAN!

It’s fight or flight stuff when it comes to the growing development footprint and consumption of our beloved village airspace. People – Villagers are scared, disappointed, and plain angry over this indiscriminate large development invasion and its impact on our Villager lifestyle.

It would seem that it is all about what “they” want and no consideration has been given to what “we” want. Other people from outside of our Village are deciding for us but, is this in fact true?

Let’s just pause here . . . doesn’t the Council and local Government work for us and what we collectively want? if so then how is this going so horribly pear-shaped? But it has to be said that not everyone dislikes this, in fact, they welcome new higher density developments and the opportunities they bring to Main beach. It should also be highlighted that the village we now enjoy is the outcome of past developments and changes in density.

Embrace change and its opportunities or change will embrace us with all its chaos and overwhelm.

It is vital that we collectively give visibility and voice to our Main Beach Character, it must become a tangible and formidable Village asset so that expectations can survive both time and the forces of change. A Villager Community Asset that can be passed forward to future Villager generations.

As a Villager community, we can be certain that the winds of change will be an ever-present factor leaning on what we have today. Change is just new and unfamiliar stuff pressing on our comfortable space. As a village, we need to accept this in order to deal with it, we need to embrace it so that we can lead it. A Village with a well-defined and recognised ‘Character’ and culture will achieve outcomes that better align with expectations.

Change is a vital contributor and elixir to character and culture,

Understanding this turns ‘change’ from an oppressive fear factor into a powerful asset. To achieve this lofty high-ground position and lead change requires a collective open mind and a ton of willingness from the majority of our Villager community. It must become the Village and Villager aura.

The council is the buffer between the status quo and the outside forces of change, we need to help the council help us.

When the council considers and then approves developments they must move them through some primary components. (1) Character (2) Current City Plan  (3) Proposed City Plan Amendments (4) Light Rail Overlay by Qld State

We are very fortunate to have the MBA who have the skills and experience to undertake components 2-4 by scrutinizing both developers applications and the council’s approval process, but this has become a very murky and distrusting environment due to the inclusion of the Qld State’s light rail ‘Code Assessed’ overlay plan. This immediately impacts and over-rides the current City plan, creating an 800-metre wide corridor that allows a much higher density of development between Rankin Parade, Waterways Drive, MacArthur Parade, and the Beach front. This change will significantly impact our Village lifestyle as we know it today.

This change is where component (1) “Character” becomes a more significant influencer of outcomes, and it’s we Villagers that have the opportunity to keep the council approval process aligned to our community expectations. We need to help the council understand the material asset of the Main Beach “Character” and its underlying culture.

The Character and Culture of Main Beach

‘Character’ is a significant component in the town planning process, but it can also be just a fluffy word open to interpretation and belittlement unless those to who it matters most give it context, shape, and definition.

‘Culture’ rises up from the consistent and collective efforts of people – Villagers of good character. It is this culture that will ultimately shape the ‘Character’ of Main Beach.

‘Character’ is such an important factor when ticking the box of development approvals, therefore decision-makers must have clarity of this somewhat intangible ‘Village Asset’, well before undertaking any considerations that may negatively violate it.

This editorial is not about being for or against property development in Main Beach

I have taken the liberty to create awareness about the ‘Character’ of Main Beach and its tangible value to influence the council process to align with the Village (r) expectations. I have also highlighted the need and advantage of embracing and leading the ever-present forces of ‘Change’.

I will leave you with the last paragraph from Sue Donovan’s editorial in the July edition of The Villager

Happy Village-ing
Steve

Last Paragraph – MBA editorial

View Sue Donovan’s Editorial

To be in the know, and help protect and improve the character of this wonderful area, please join (or renew your membership of) The Main Beach Association.
Your membership will take you through to July 2022.

If you want to learn more, including details of developments that are already ‘in play’, become a member of the Main Beach Association.
Click here to go to the Membership Application page…MBA Facebook

Also heading off in a slightly different tangent, would you like to write about your favourite topic here in Main Beach?  or would you like to share what you know – Let’s have a chat – click this link

The Villager Ambassador Club is taking shape, would you like to be part of something special and of course fun?
Help spread the Villager Vibe, and be part of upcoming initiatives?
Add your name to our ‘Ambassadors  List and we will keep you updated.

There is nothing better in life than good company with a purpose.
Thanks, heaps
Steve

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