Objections: The definitive guide
* You can lodge your submission (objection) online through the Council's DA web site. Just go to the DA for the Regent (i.e. search the development # A002014434) and click on lodge a submission near the top of the page once opened. You will need some form of ID to lodge your electronic objection.
* Make your objection relevant to the developer's plans, not a wish list or history lesson. Dot points are best, addressing each portion you object to in the development. State the grounds for your objection - heritage, city plan laws, cultural impacts or personal reasons. Some examples:
+ Loss of cultural and entertainment amenity and closure of a Brisbane icon are other issues worth mentioning.
+ Removal and loss of the 1929 decorations in Cinema 1 and adjoining areas and the reduction in seating from 1460 to just 420 could be mentioned.
+ Destruction of the 1929 Elizabeth St façade to make way for a car park. Ditto, the cinema box in total.
+ Increased traffic congestion on Elizabeth St and in the CBD resulting from this new carpark on the regent site.
* Suggesting a viable alternative to what you dislike may help to influence the outcome. For example, a moderate size live theatre/entertainment venue in place of the three small cinemas proposed; use of the Cinema 1 decorations; changes to carparking or entrances etc.
* Provide the facts and circumstances to back up your claims. Quoting city plan regulations will help. These can be viewed at any BCC library.
* The relevant city plan regulations have been stated in the development application for reference. See also:
http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/BCC:BASE:742965234:pc=PC_1747 and click on city centre local plan code (Ch 4) and centre design code (ch 5).
* If not doing an online objection, you will need to quote the DA reference number, which is A002014434 AND also the land parcel description, which is "Lot 2 on RP 49018" (this is just one of several parcels in the development). Property address is 167 Queen Street, Brisbane.
* You can attach photos, diagrams, statistics etc to your objection/submission. Online attachments must be smaller than 4mB each.
* Group submissions must be lodged in person or by mail.
* Address your objection to:
The Chief Executive Officer
Brisbane City Council
GPO Box 1434
Brisbane 4001.
* Remember to quote the DA number (above) at the top of your submission. Also put your postal address for any correspondence coming from council to you.
* Post the submission at least 48hrs before the deadline, 7 November 2008. If it is not received at council by the deadline, you will not be able to appeal the decision of council on this development.
Syndicate
Comments
The regent
Please don't demolish another part of Brisbane's history. We are all too quickly losing what are our greatest assets for the future. Can we not preserve such a fabulous building for generations to come? Can we not look to Europe where their architects are able to classically restore and rebuild old buildings in a timeless way yet looking to the future with their design and sustainability? We now look back at the concrete buildings of the 70s with disgust. Please don't destroy our history for future eye-sores!!!
Regent Theatre DA ref. no. A002014434
All the logical reasoning in the world can't come close to the force of that intangible 'vibe', a much-loved expression plucked from 'The Castle' that's entered our lexicon in revamped form almost by osmosis, simply because it represents a genuine feeling for what's right and what's wrong. You demolish the 'vibe' that comes courtesy of sitting in that grand old theatre, even of just knowing it is there, and you demolish something really important. Those of us who recently attended a free screening of the Coen Brothers' latest movie, courtesy of the ABC, will know what I'm talking about. I reluctantly travelled with a friend from the Gold Coast, bemoaning the thought of paying for the trip and the parking at the end of it, but totally blown away by the vibe in that precious, almost hallowed, space, and having no logical, measured argument to justify it. Just remember Cloudland I say, and the outpouring of public emotion (still) at its loss. Plus ca change...