Owen Street on a fast track as social housing goes up in rapid time
Mossman homes
Roads across the Mossman region were temporarily closed down last week to allow for a convoy of trucks to deliver pre-fabricated sections of a State Government 18-home social-housing project which is now already half-built on Owen Street.
The social-housing project was exempt from requiring council development approval, and some residents were shocked when a large rain tree was removed from the block after the go-ahead was given late last year.
Newsport was contacted by one Mossman local who was disappointed with the way the two-storey project has been carried out.
“It would be nice to know what’s going on here as it’s all been hush hush since the huge raintree was cut down which took crews about three weeks or more to complete,” they wrote to Newsport.
“Then we find out that about 15, 16,17? social housing units are being plonked down in the middle of residential housing at 16 Owen St with not a whisper from the DSC in regards to planning laws.”
In October builder and developer Trevor Woodward expressed disappointment at the lack of planning notice for the project, saying the building will be an ugly addition to one of the nicest streets in Mossman.
Mr Woodward said his calls to the council for details on the development left him frustrated after he learned the social-housing project was not required to meet the same guidelines as other developments.
“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,” he said.
“They are going to be stacking modular homes on top of each other in the nicest street in Mossman.
“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.”
A statement from Mayor Lisa Scomazzon confirmed the claims.
“This project is being delivered by the Queensland Government under its social housing program,’’ Mayor Scomazzon said.
“As such, it is exempt from assessment by Douglas Shire Council under the Planning Act 2016.
“This means council does not have the authority to approve or refuse the development, nor does it assess the project against local planning scheme provisions.
“Similarly, vegetation removal associated with the project is covered by state exemptions and does not require council approval,” she said.
