Noosa Council has slammed the Queensland Government’s eleventh-hour declaration of two large developments claiming the projects herald a radical new future for the region.
Council has been notified via letter that the Minister made the declaration late Monday night, just prior to the government moving into Caretaker mode.
The projects have been lodged as State Facilitated Development (SFD) projects which occurs when they contain an element of affordable housing.
It also means developers can avoid assessments under Council planning schemes.
According to the advice from the government, the proposed development at the Noosa Junction site includes up to 196 dwellings with a building height of five to six storeys and the Tewantin proposal includes 40 units at three to four storeys.
“This blatantly disrespects Noosa’s planning scheme, which has been developed on the back of extensive community input and been the backbone of Noosa’s unique character and appeal,” Mayor Frank Wilkie said.
“It’s also incredibly frustrating and disappointing that the State only released information on the proposed height of the developments after making the declaration, particularly when our staff have been requesting this information from the State at the commencement of the consultation period,” Cr Wilkie said.
The Minister has outlined that the applicants of the two developments are now required to lodge a detailed development application to the new State Facilitated Development Department for assessment within 40 business days.
The Department then has 75 business days to assess and decide the application, which includes the requirement for the applicant to undertake a minimum consultation period of 20 days for the community to provide feedback.
Under the declaration, no appeal rights exist for either the council or the community to challenge any decision.
Council had requested a meeting with the state and developers regarding the two local proposals, which now include between 180 to 196 dwellings on Lanyana Way at Noosa Junction and a 40-unit development for the corner of Sidoni Street and Poinciana Avenue at Tewantin.
“The proposed developments, with their excessive height and density, disregard what our community has worked to preserve,” Cr Wilkie said.
“These proposals now threaten to undo decades of diligent work by successive councils and the Noosa community to create low-rise precincts our residents and visitors know and love.”
“We have said all along that the sites are suitable for housing, but it should be done in a way that meets the expectations of our community.”
“I encourage community members to make their opinions known when this consultation occurs because our shire is facing a radical change in the look and feel that has been highly valued for decades,” Cr Wilkie said.
