Buddina development change raises lighting concerns over turtle nesting sites

Concerns have been raised over a controversial Sunshine Coast beachside apartment complex near turtle nesting sites after a fresh application to change lighting conditions.

An artist’s rendition of the beachside apartment complex in Buddina.

A community group has raised new concerns over a controversial beachside apartment complex near turtle nesting sites after the developer lodged an application to change lighting conditions.

The seven-storey, 21m-tall 73-unit development in Buddina was approved by Sunshine Coast Council in April 2019 and would be built across six residential blocks on Iluka Ave and Talinga St.

Community group Friends of Buddina spokeswoman Lesley Dimmock said the development had sparked controversy since the first application was lodged in July 2018.

“Council approved the development application in April 2019, subject to 74 approval conditions, of which condition 70 had a further 20 subclauses of compliance criteria for turtle lighting,” she said.

Friends of Buddina challenged the plans from developer Pacific Diamond 88 in the Planning and Environment Court and in July 2020 council approved amendments designed to mitigate the issues.

In its latest application, Pacific Diamond 88 has proposed the removal of three subclauses of the approval conditions.

In a cover letter provided to council, it stated the changes related to “conditions and referenced documents that seek to ameliorate the impacts

of lighting on the adjacent turtle nesting grounds”.

A clutch of critically endangered loggerhead turtles on Buddina Beach.

Specifically the application has asked for the removal of requirements for non-reflective glazing on the building, opaque blinds on windows and doors that would close automatically at night and paint, surfaces and fixtures to be made matte and have a maximum reflectance of 30 per cent.

Ms Dimmock claimed these changes proposed in April would significantly impact the nesting sites of endangered loggerhead turtles along the beach.

“All visible lights will negatively impact the beach and inshore waters, deterring turtles from nesting and disorientating hatchlings which are then unable to find the sea or successfully disperse to the open ocean,” she said.

A Lighting Outcome Report submitted with the application stated that it has estimated the lower four stories of the building would be completely obscured from view from the beach due to the existing dunes and vegetation.

A cover letter also included in the application stated the Artificial Light Management Plan, prepared by Pendoley Environmental, stated the proposed changes would still “meet the objectives of the DA Conditions Actions for mitigating light spill, glow and visibility from the nesting beaches, while improving the living conditions of unit owners”.

“On this basis the proposed changes remain consistent with the relevant statutory instruments,” it reads.

It stated that tenants and owners would be required by the body corporate to draw their curtains by 10pm each night and 8pm during turtle nesting season from October to May.

Buddina Beach along Pacific Blvd.

But Ms Dimmock claimed the changes posed too great a risk for the local environment.

“Buddina Beach provides one of the most important nesting habitats on the Sunshine Coast for the endangered loggerhead turtles, typically recording the highest number of confirmed nests and also high percentages of male hatchlings,” she said.

Pacific Diamond 88 representatives declined to comment.