Developer lodges Development Application with Council  

VANESSA HALL  
EDITOR  

A Cairns-based property developer formally lodged a Development Application (DA) on Friday, October 9, with Sunshine Coast Regional Council for three sites along South Coolum Road, with the developer seeking a material change of use for each site in order to build a retirement facility consisting of 823 dwellings.

The development proposed by Halpin Property Group features a mix of residential dwellings (detached and single storey), community facilities, and green space comprising parks and water features.

Currently zoned rural, the sites at 150, 162 and 164 South Coolum Road will be impact assessable and at some stage open to community consultation.

The approximately 43.3-hectare site proposal includes approximately 19.80 hectares of residential land, 1.67 hectares of community facility land, 9.25 hectares of open space, green links, community parks, a dedicated RV parking area and an integrated wetland and stormwater management area.

Halpin Property Group issued a release with Director Darren Halpin stating that their proposal would be meeting the need for housing for an ageing demographic within the local area.

“South East Queensland is facing significant housing pressure, and we believe part of the solution is making sure we are delivering the right types of homes for people at different stages of their lives,” Mr Halpin said.

“This proposal is about creating genuine housing choice for people who want to right-size as they get older, while allowing them to remain connected to the community, family, friends and services they know.”

Site concerns over flooding 
Documents which form part of the DA acknowledge that the site is located on a floodplain and it is this aspect which has been of most concern to community members and advocacy groups from the outset.

Development Watch President Brian Anker said there were problems with the proposal.

“It is important that the town plan is respected and land which is zoned rural with flood overlays should not be built on.”

Brian noted that flooding was just one of three main problems with the proposal.

“In order to build this site up, so much fill will be needed, and how many trucks will then be coming and going on the roads?

“And how does the road infrastructure cater to the extra traffic? At the moment, at certain times it cannot cope.”

In response to flooding concerns, the DA reaffirms the need for additional housing due to the sites falling within the boundaries of the ‘ShapingSEQ 2023 Urban Footprint ’, which is a state-based planning instrument used for assessing future urban growth and the development’s proximity to already established urban areas.

The DA is firm throughout all submitted documents that the development can be built on a known floodplain due to a need for more housing and that the appropriate earthworks will mitigate any potential flooding dangers.

The Halpin Group states that the application follows an extensive period of planning, technical investigation, economic and community analysis, and engagement.

And that they have engaged specialist expertise across planning, environmental, ecological, hydrological and infrastructure matters to understand the site and inform the proposal now before Council.

Community concerns and initial feedback  
The DA acknowledges that flooding concerns were raised when informal community feedback was sought via two pop-up information sessions on May 21 and 24 this year and via local door knocking of nearby residents.

The submitted report from URBIS, which conducted the ‘Prelodgement Community Engagement Snapshot ’, repeatedly mentions community sentiments as positive to the development, with the main concerns being flooding and traffic.

Mr Halpin stated that it was important for the group to listen to the community.

“I’ve spent time getting out and talking with neighbours and people from across the broader community, and we’ve heard a really diverse range of views,” Mr Halpin said.

“We’ve listened carefully to the issues people believe are important; we heard a lot of positive feedback about the type of housing being proposed and about the opportunity to consider other infrastructure that could benefit the broader community.

“We now look forward to continuing that conversation through the Development Application process, including how this proposal can integrate with and support the broader infrastructure needs of a growing region.”

Brian Anker from Development Watch said he found the community engagement to be frustrating at best.

“The engagement was minimal and lacked information and at best was glossing over our genuine community concerns.”

Mr Anker stated that Development Watch would be advocating for the community on this DA and that the town plan needed to be respected.

“We feel confident that Council will reject this. And we agree that we need additional housing, but this is completely inappropriate development for these sites.”

What do you think about this proposal? Why not send in a letter to the editor at editor@coolumadvertiser.com.au