Why council threw out Stockland’s major development

A controversial proposal with a 13-year history for a masterplanned community next to Twin Waters was shot down by council. Here’s why it was thrown out.

ON THE GO: Council voted down the Stockland development.

A controversial proposal with a 13-year history for a masterplanned community next to Twin Waters was shot down by Sunshine Coast Council this week.

A majority of councillors at Thursday's meeting voted against Stockland's bid to develop a 104ha flood plain for its residential project years in the making.

Division eight councillor Jason O'Pray put forward a motion to reject the proposal, contrary to the recommendation given to councillors that it should go ahead.

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Flood risk, traffic concerns and a lack of community support were cited in Cr O'Pray's motion against the development.

Eight councillors voted in favour: Rick Baberowski, Joe Natoli, Winston Johnston, Christian Dickson, Ted Hungerford, Jason O'Pray, Maria Suarez and David Law.

Cr Peter Cox and Cr Terry Landsberg voted against the motion.

VISION: A concept of the Twin Waters West development.

The development, neighbouring Twin Waters and Pacific Paradise, would have eventually included 645 homes, with 171 included in the first two stages of construction.

Stockland proposed a 19ha waterway feature and 10kms of paths.

The application was two-pronged, seeking approval for a variation to the Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme 2014 as well as a development permit to reconfigure four lots into 182 lots to be developed over two stages, as well as new roads, parks and the balance of the site for future development, subject to further applications.

Cr O'Pray's approved motion outlined eight reasons the development should not go ahead.

He said the key issues involved flood risk and a reduction to the western side of the Sunshine Coast Motorway buffer from 40m to 20m.

Stop Twin Waters West protesters.

He said the buffer reduction would impact future development of CAMCOS - the proposed Caboolture to Maroochydore rail line.

"It creates a million unanswerable questions about visual screening, acoustic separation and if there will be enough noise attenuation," he said.

"I'm not at all convinced on this."

Cr O'Pray said it posed an unacceptable flood risk, caused by disturbance to the flood plain it was proposed to be built on.

Another concern was for the lack of protection for Settlers Park and the existing mango trees nearby.

It would increase the number of people living in the key resource area (separation area).

He said Stockland "has not demonstrated that the traffic engineering impacts of the proposed development would be acceptable".

Other issues included that the development did not align with reasonable community expectations and did not comply with applicable planning instruments.

"There are no discretionary matters that warrant approval of the proposed development," the motion ended with.

A Stockland spokesperson said they were "extremely disappointed" in the outcome and the company would review the decision and its position.

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