Stockland seek to amend approval conditions on Twin Waters West development

Stockland has applied to make a series of changes to the approved plans for the Twin Waters West development less than a year after it was given the green light.

The site for Twin Waters West development in Pacific Paradise.

A series of amendments have been proposed for Stockland’s controversial Twin Waters West development, including changes to the Sunshine Coast Council’s environmental conditions and the delivery of certain projects.

Stockland Development Pty Ltd submitted an application to amend a total of five approval conditions to the Sunshine Coast Council on July 9, 2024.

Stockland’s large-scale development was granted preliminary approval by the council in December last year, after initially being rejected twice.

The development is expected to deliver 450 homes across the 104 hectare site as well as a large man-made lake.

An artist impression of the Twin Waters West development.

The application documents show Stockland have sought to remove an approval condition that would make them take recommendations from the National Trust Queensland regarding the protection of mango trees on the site.

“Condition 24 (d) additionally requires that recommendations from the National Trust Queensland should be taken for the protection of the mango trees,” the application stated.

“Considerable work in establishing the drip line based approach has already been undertaken and agreed with council with David Low Way roadworks being designed on this basis to establish a design exception agreement with the Department of Transport and Main Roads.

“Introducing another level of referral to the National Trust provides uncertainty with this outcome.”

Sunshine Coast Council gave preliminary approval for the Twin Waters West development. Picture – contributed.

The application also seeks to amend to the conditions for water testing, stating the council’s current requirement would create compliance issues and “uncertainty”.

“The ‘tiered’ approach in the Lake Management Plan has been removed and requires all elements to be monitored monthly, with ultimate results being reliant on the median criteria of all samples,” the application stated.

“This adds uncertainty and moves away from the agreed approach outlined in the Lake Management Plan.”

The amendment proposes that rather than monitoring all element levels permanently each month, a “tiered” approach would mean certain measurements be taken quarterly and achieve compliant levels at least 75 per cent of the time.

Stockland have also applied to alter the conditions regarding the development’s evacuation centre, requesting the need for sufficient services to last 583 people for five days be reduced to meet the needs of 140 people instead.

A Stockland spokeswoman said the proposed changes were of a technical nature.

“The minor change application is technical in nature and is in accordance with the Sunshine Coast Council Planning Scheme,” she said.

“The application will be assessed by council against the preliminary approval.”