Mossman residents, including builder and developer Trevor Woodward, have slammed works and the lack of planning for a social housing project in Owen Street, saying the building will be an ugly addition to one of the nicest streets in town.

Mr Woodward said his calls to council for details on the development left him frustrated after he learned the social housing project was not required to meet the same development approvals of all other developers.

“Apparently social housing doesn’t have to have a development application and doesn’t have to meet the same planning requirements of all other developers.

“They are going to be stacking modular homes on top of each other in the nicest street in Mossman.’’

Mr Woodward said the plan was to put 18 two story social housing units on the site, adding the removal of a large raintree to make way for the project had outraged other residents, many of them taking to social media to express their disappointment.

“How can you let cheap housing like this ruin a street like Owen Street, the nicest street in Mossman?’’ Mr Woodward said.

“There’s a big beautiful raintree on the block. They claim they got clearance from traditional owners to remove it.

“It’s got nothing to do with being against social housing…. It is the fact it doesn’t have to comply with all the approvals any other builder or developer has to,’’ he added.

Inquiries to Douglas Shire Council confirmed Mr Woodward’s claims in a statement to Newsport from Mayor Lisa Scomazzon.

“This project is being delivered by the Queensland Government under its social housing program,’’ Mrs Scomazzon said.