Debate over Fingal store

By Jo Kennett

TWEED MAYOR Chris Cherry and Deputy Mayor Meredith Dennis met with Fingal Head residents last week to hear their concerns over the development of what they say is a “large-scale industrial bakery” at the site of the general store and post office.

According to one of the residents who helped to organise the meeting, the Mayor and Deputy Mayor were “welcomed warmly” by the community and thanked for taking an interest in what they are calling a “controversial” development application (DA) that will proceed before Council for determination.

“Emotions in the Fingal community have been raging over the potential construction of the large-scale destination-style bakery in the heart of our small quiet residential village,” the resident, who did not want to be named, said.

Residents say the new owners of the development site who have successfully established and on-sold other bakery businesses on the Gold Coast such as BamBam, Custard Canteen and The Farm, bought the Fingal Head General Store and Post Office business nearly two years ago “and proceeded immediately to shut the door of the 115-year-old facility that serviced the needs of the community for generations.”

At the meeting, Mayor Cherry explained the process that now lays before Council in assessing the DA, and listened to the presentations, comments and concerns from residents attending the meeting.

“It is important that the council takes a firm stand here regarding this type of request for commercial and industrial development on and in amongst residential zoned areas as it will set a precedent for other developers to undermine and erode the Tweed’s zoning plans and policies,” one resident told the councillors.

According to one of the organisers, Mayor Cherry and Deputy Mayor Dennis acknowledged that Council had received a large number of objection letters regarding the development and assured the Fingal community that they would read every objection personally over the next two months.

Residents were also encouraged to continue sending in their letters, both for and against, if they had not done so already as these will continue to be acknowledged as the DA progresses.

Mayor Cherry said that it was well known that the Fingal community, although small, had a very strong voice when it came to fighting development.

Michelle Maughan, who lives next door to the development said, “We actually welcome a suitable shop on this site.”

“The community misses its general store and post office and the occasional Food Truck Friday,” she told the two councillors.

“We just don’t want this kind of Gold Coast business model, as it caters to outsiders rather than the needs of our community.”

Another longtime Fingal resident said they were ready to fight the development.

“Here in Fingal, we may be as quiet as mice most days, but when there is a need, we can roar like a lion,” Roger Graf said.

The owners of the site were approached for a response, but were unable to comment prior to the print deadline.