300 beds proposed for golf course Rena Merchant created

The Christian owners of a golf course have promised a proposed 300-bed camp will pose little disruption to its Noosa hinterland neighbours with ‘no raves or dance parties’ allowed.

Billabong co-founder Rena Merchant on the golf course she created plus an aerial view of the site and a render of the proposed accommodation.

The owners of a golf course and permaculture farm in the Noosa hinterland want to put accommodation for up to 300 people on the site.

The site was created by Billabong surfwear co-founder Rena Merchant, a dedicated healthy living advocate who opened the organic golf course in the early 2000s.

Christian Youth Camps manager Andrew Grant said the group had looked for five years for a suitable site and already had a camp at Burleigh Heads.

He said the group bought the Cootharaba site in 2021.

A development application lodged with Noosa Council proposes for short-term accommodation of up to 300 beds and supporting infrastructure for Kabi Rd site.

Billabong surfwear co-founder Rena Merchant on the golf course she created.

The 130.2ha site is already a permaculture orchard and an 18-hole golf course.

Development application documents showed school groups would use the accommodation but it would also open for other groups on school holidays or weekends.

The Cootharaba golf course and permaculture site.

The organisation also partnered with groups throughout southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales to use their sites.

He said the Cootharaba site would continue its permaculture focus with a “paddock to plate” experience for guests.

“It’s a centre that has a philosophy around sustainability and food production and we’d love for students to collect eggs in the morning, contribute to their afternoon and morning teas by picking fruit and making scones,” Mr Grant said.

“They can take permaculture principles home with them.”

A 300-bed proposal for a Cootharaba golf course has been lodged with the Noosa Council.

He said the group’s existing 200-bed camp was in the middle of Burleigh Heads and they worked with their surrounding neighbours well.

“The students are always under a level of supervision,” Mr Grant said.

“We don’t have dance parties or raves or things like that.”

The manager said the group hoped to construct three villages of varying bed numbers that were interspersed throughout the site and far enough away from each other so if separate groups were onsite, they would not interact.

He said the proposed accommodation was basic and he could not estimate the value of the build given the current state of the construction industry and costs of building materials.

According to the development application documents, councillors had attended the site to familiarise themselves with the applicant and the proposal.