General News
11 July, 2025
Battle at the beach
A GROUP of Trinity Beach residents is fighting a proposed tourism development on the skyline at the southern end of the suburb’s coastline which they believe will destroy the character of their neighbourhood.
The Possum St community is alarmed that retaining walls and a road as part of the project will run above and just 1.3m from their boundaries, invading privacy and the loss of a beautiful backdrop of mature trees.
They also fear the removal of the trees and tonnes of topsoil will exacerbate flooding which they also suffered post Cyclone Jasper and in January’s heavy rains.
Residents have bombarded Cairns Regional Council with 60 submissions.
Developer Nathan Verri is seeking a material change of use for short term accommodation and a house on land between Possum St and Moore St.
He says the new application is a far better one than the original approval.
Resident Jacqui Geddes said the six townhouses, the retaining walls and a road run the entire length of Possum St above everyone’s backyards.
She said at least 112 mature trees, some of which could be 80-years-old, were earmarked for removal.
“We are really worried about the final product, with massive retaining walls, a road and a loss of privacy and the increase in noise,” Mrs Geddes said.
“This could be the start of bigger, future developments.”
Her husband Terry said the walls would be at a 45 degree angle just metres from the rear of their house.
“We are really worried about the construction process and also the potential for flooding,” he said.
“We don’t know how long construction will take place and they want to remove 9180sqm of top soil as well as the trees.
“That’s the equivalent of 1300 truck loads up and down Moore St, then there’s the backfill involving 200 trucks and then the concrete trucks.
“We just don’t know the construction timeframe ... could it be through three wet seasons?
“It’s a lovely environment and Trinity Beach is the locals beach. It’s an environmental zone so it shouldn’t be cleared at all.”
Mrs Geddes said that so many details were unknown and there was also the potential loss of wildlife such as scrub turkeys, lace monitors, echidnas, wallabies and flying foxes.
Anna Pereira said there were concerns about rock removals.
She said a “massive rock” would have to be removed to make way for the road.
“It will cause major vibrations,” she said.
Her husband Peter said it was a highly unstable hillslope.
“Also it’s zoned residential, not tourist accommodation, so it will not alleviate the housing crisis,” he said.
“It’s substantially different to the original application.
“It’s not in keeping with the area, there will be more noise, considerable intrusion.
“Building a road so close to the boundaries is not acceptable.
“It will change the atmosphere. There is already enough tourist accommodation here.”
Mrs Pereira said she was concerned about flooding from the development during the wet season.
“We are not opposed to development but this is unreasonable,” she said.
Mrs Geddes said after the trees were cleared the development would be clearly seen from the beach and further afield.
Divisional representative Cr Brett Olds said there was an existing approval for residential dwellings but the new owner of the land wanted to now do something else.
He said it was “a tough one for officers” and would come under “a lot of scrutiny and oversight”.
Cr Olds said depending upon the council’s decision it could end up being appealed in the Planning and Environmental Court and the council had to be in a position to defend its decision.
The application will come before the council in coming months.
To view the application visit https://bit.ly/4lfJw4b
