Kangaroo Point residents say they have become the unwitting victims of the push for high-density living after 18 months of relentless excavation has thrown their daily lives into turmoil.
Locals living at Castlebar Cove, directly adjacent to the Gaia development site at 108 Lambert Street, said non-stop rock-breaking, diesel fumes, closed roads, and parking shortages have driven residents to breaking point as several major developments proceed across the peninsula.
Castlebar Cove’s North and East towers sit at the centre of an unprecedented concentration of construction activity, with six major projects underway within 500 metres of the site.
“Council appears to have given no consideration to the inconvenience or the mental and physical health of residents,” resident Lori Sexton said.
“Three major developments are being built virtually side-by-side: Gaia at 108 Lambert Street, River House immediately to the north, and another apartment project at 120 Lambert Street. A seventh approved development on 137–139 Lambert Street has just been announced.”
The disruption has forced some locals from their homes. Professor Ian Scott, a government health clinician, and his wife relocated after months of continuous groundworks.
“It was the constant noise,” Professor Scott said. “Rock-breaking, machinery working all day from 6.15 am. It has been unbearable.”
Film director James Lingwood, whose home office sits fewer than 50 metres from the excavation site, said the noise has ruined his workday.
“If I use Zoom, I have to go somewhere else in the apartment,” Mr Lingwood said. “I’ve resorted to taking calls in the bathroom to escape the noise.”
Neighbour Bronwyn Perrins likened the daily jackhammering to “Chinese water torture”, adding that her daughter was docked marks during a university oral assessment because of the background noise.
For resident Rosemary Ness, who suffers from asthma, the environmental impact has forced a “substantial” increase in medication.
“My home has stopped feeling like a safe place and more like a prison,” Ms Ness said. “I have become more isolated because I cannot invite anyone over.”
Ms Ness said a nearby crane has compounded the problem: “Pikos crane cabins are left pointing at my apartment windows; the line of sight is so close I can see the faces of the operators who appear to stare into my kitchen and bedroom.
“This has stripped away what fragment of amenity I had left and has created an invasive, distressing living environment. No building project should rob a person of their right to feel safe.”
Developer Pikos defended its operations.
“Agreements have been established with some neighbours, and appropriate compensation has been provided in relation to crane operations,” Jaron Dalle Cort, General Manager, Development, said.
“The crane in question is positioned to fulfil the lifting requirements … and, when not in operation, is designed to weather-vane automatically for safety and structural reasons.
“Pikos will respond directly to the complainant and will continue to keep her informed during the progress of construction.”
A Brisbane City Council spokesperson said that routine inspections had found no regulatory breaches on site.
“Measures are in place to reduce dust, and noise levels are monitored,” the spokesperson said.
“No reports have been received about work taking place outside approved construction hours. Council will continue to respond to concerns and work with the builder. Council has no control over how long construction takes or when a project is finished.”
