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COUNCIL WATCH GOLD COAST
Saturday 22 August 2026
Developing Councillors to be briefed on landmark height-limit ruling this Tuesday Follow the story →

Planning

What the court actually said about “housing affordability”

The judgment rejected the idea that luxury apartments necessarily deliver affordability simply by adding supply.

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The Court of Appeal held that simply adding expensive apartments does not, without more, meet the City Plan’s housing-affordability outcome. The matter was sent back for redetermination.

Council is now seeking special leave to appeal to the High Court.

What the judgment actually decided

The court’s reasoning turned on the wording of the overall outcome, not on the merits of any individual tower.

For residents, the practical question is what happens to applications already lodged under the disputed interpretation.

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