Dear Owners & Residents,

Since the last newsletter in February, we've held the Tank Tower AGM. We want to express sincere gratitude to outgoing committee members for their dedicated service. While some have stepped down, several continue to provide valuable support in advisory roles.

For those unfamiliar with committee roles and responsibilities, please refer to past newsletters on the TankTower.com.au website's News & Rentals page.

Major Works: Tower Painting and Penthouse Balcony Drainage

The AGM approved a major project to refresh the building's exterior. Painting will start on June 3rd, focusing on areas requiring rope access. The multi-tonal color scheme will enhance the building's aesthetics:

• Main tower side walls and rear wall: White

• Main tower site recesses: Grey

• Main tower front: Grey

• Main tower balcony edges (Rear): Grey

Expect the project to take approximately 6 weeks, weather permitting. The image below shows the painting areas.

The image below shows the locations where overflow drains on Level 18 balconies will be improved to reduce, or remove, the likelihood that during heavy downpours water will pool causing water to enter Penthouses and Level 17 Lots.

Security & Parking

Restricting fob and swipe card access solely to residents is crucial for maintaining a secure and controlled environment within the building. These fobs/cards act as digital keys, granting access to the building, and nonresidents could gain access to restricted areas, potentially leading to theft, vandalism, or even threats to resident safety. These concerns are increased for Lots that are accessed through the carpark and Level 5.

Sharing cards/fobs with non-residents or owners for the purposes of renting car spaces is a breach of the by-laws.

32.3 No ancillary car parking space shall be used or filled (including by exclusive use, lease or sale) by other than residents of the lot in the Building or tenants of the Lot 1 being the shop, restaurant or office of their bona fide visitors.

37.4 The Body Corporate may refuse admission to the Building of any person that is considers a security risk or likely to create a nuisance or is otherwise breaching these by-laws.

The bylaw 32.3 is a requirement of the Development Approval condition 6 which includes the following "This condition is imposed to ensure that the car parking spaces are only used for their intended and approved purpose of ancillary car parking for the development. Non-compliance with this condition is likely to mean that there has been a 'material change of use' on the site. Such development is likely to be assessable development. For any enquiries about this condition, please contact the Assessment Manager." The Development Approval is available from the Owners page of TankTower.com.au website.

Below are extracts from material sent to all owners on 10th November 2006 quoting "Lot owners that do not reside in the building and are not inspecting their lot or meeting with their letting agent at Tank Tower are not permitted to use the car park spaces at Tank Tower. This prohibition extends to lot owners that commute to the Central Business District by car and wish to park at Tank Tower."

If you have any questions about security or parking, you are reminded of the roles that the committee and the caretaker have. The caretaker is required to enforce bylaws, to give visibility to the committee of any breaches of the bylaws, the committee is responsible for reviewing and making decisions, and then the caretaker is responsible for enforcing the decisions. Please write to chairperson@tanktower.com.au if you have any questions or feedback.

33 Herschel Street Development

This newsletter provides the opportunity to update readers on the Development Application for 33 Herschel Street, located directly behind Tank Tower. The committee submitted feedback on the application, the site has since been sold and the chairperson recently followed up with the Brisbane City Council Assessment Officer, Shirley Mills, to ensure feedback was considered. Below is a link where you can search the application:

https://developmenti.brisbane.qld.gov.au/Home/MapSearch search for A006169158

The application is still proceeding, irrespective of the sale, however the purchaser has apparently indicated that there is no immediate plan to proceed with the development if approved.

More information can be found using the links below:

https://brisbanedevelopment.com/44-storey-office-tower-proposed-for-herschel-street/

https://www.realestatesource.com.au/school-beats-developers-to-prime-brisbane-site/

https://www.australianpropertyjournal.com.au/2024/04/02/capricorn-books-43pc-capital-gain-from-brisbane-office/

Fire Safety

This year we have already had two fire related incidents that resulted in activation of fire sprinklers causing considerable disruption. Thankfully sprinklers work as intended, however the flow on impact of flooding resulting from activation is significant. All residents are reminded to exercise caution and increased awareness to the following bylaws:

31.7 An owner or occupier must not carry out repairs or maintenance of any kind on a vehicle on Scheme Land.

40.3 If an owner or occupier does anything on their Lot which causes any fire service or authority to visit the Scheme Land, and a cost is charged to the Body Corporate, then the owner or occupier of the relevant Lot must pay that amount on demand to the Body Corporate.

The committee would like to increase awareness to the potential of fires caused by charging E-Scooters, and other E-devices. It is highly recommended that these are only charged under continuous observation. See the links below for some recent events related to E-Scooters:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-20/qld-new-farm-unit-fire/103749054

https://7news.com.au/news/fire-tears-through-brisbane-apartment-after-e-scooter-explosion--c-13907507

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-01-27/lithium-ion-battery-escooter-house-fire-investigation-coorparoo/103396316

Reminders

Pool Heater

The pool heater is deactivated between 15th of May to 15th August for energy savings, and remains open for use - by the brave! 

Postage & Email

This year we have seen an increase in the number of owners who are receiving correspondence via slow traditional post delivery service, increasing your Body Corporate costs and delaying your updates on important topics.  The committee would like to encourage owners accept all correspondence via email, and asks owners to ensure the SMG email addresses are added to your contact lists to ensure emails are not set to Junk/Spam folders. 

Lot Changes & Bylaws

The by-laws outline changes to Lots that require approval of the Body Corporate, so it is encouraged that if you are considering improvements to your Lot, undertaking renovations, installing air-conditioning, or altering your floors (for example) then review the by-laws and contact SMG so a request can be put to the committee for consideration. The committee has increased awareness to alternations due to the potential impact to sprinklers.

Throwing items over balcony

By-law 23.1 outlines that throwing items, including dirty water and cigarette butts, etc over the balcony or out of a window is not permitted as there are safety hazard and potential legal consequences of throwing objects from balconies.

To the future

The immediate area near Tank Tower continues to evolve. Below are some links to recent updates for nearby projects:

Roma Street

https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/99980

https://crossriverrail.qld.gov.au/construction/roma-street-construction/roma-street-station-site/

205 North Quay

https://www.hutchinsonbuilders.com.au/projects/commercial/205-north-quay

Feedback?

If you have questions or suggestions, please submit them using the TankTower.com.au Contact page or email me chairperson@tanktower.com.au

Phill Jones – Chairperson to the Body Corporate, Tank Tower