POLICE were called to a construction site near Maleny early this morning after about 20 residents blocked access to the property in protest at over a development.
As reported in GC&M News (16 April), residents have become increasingly concerned at the progress of the development at 960 Bald Knob Road, claiming it is dangerous with potential land slips due to the slope of the site and the amount of earthworks.
It is understood the owner of the site is constructing a park on the private property.
Before 8am this morning, the residents descended on the site with a vehicle parked across the driveway to block further access.
Police said they responded “to a disturbance at a construction site on Bald Knob Road, Bald Knob at around 8am today, April 19”.
“Upon arrival, police took up with a group of people outside the address,” a Police spokesperson said.
“A vehicle was parked across the driveway to the construction site. The owner of this vehicle moved the vehicle when asked.
“No official complaints have been made.”
One protester said that the protest was to try and stop construction trucks and machinery from continuing earthworks, as they have become fed up with the development.
“The council won’t return our calls, and they have been giving us many excuses about why the development was allowed to go ahead,” a protester said.
“At one stage they told us it was a state government development, which turned out to be untrue, I don’t know where they got that information.”
A spokesperson for the Sunshine Coast Council said last week that the development had been assessed and was allowed to proceed.
They said they had investigated several complaints made regarding the earthworks and found that no laws were being broken.
“Council has investigated each enquiry and to date, no breach or non-compliance has been identified,” the spokesperson said.
“Council is unable to take any formal compliance or enforcement action where no breach is occurring.
“Council officers will continue to monitor the work being carried out.”