Caloundra stalwart calls for rethink of CBD plans

Long-time residents of Caloundra have produced more alternate plans for the CBD, despite a fresh master plan already being adopted.

Long-time Caloundra resident and lifesaver Patricia Barry. Picture: John McCutcheon

LONG-time residents of Caloundra have produced more alternate plans for the CBD.

Tony and Patricia Barry have submitted amendments to the Caloundra Centre Master Plan which was adopted by council back in March.

Since 1982 Ms Barry said she'd owned eight properties in the town centre and spent countless hours patrolling Bulcock Beach as a volunteer lifesaver.

She suggested a series of sweeping changes to the existing master plan.

Instead of a series of four-star hotel developments Mrs Barry said a church or other altruistic development providing accommodation for low income families and low paid professionals would be better suited.

Caloundra CBD artist's impression.

She suggested a separate, multi-level retirement facility for a "slightly wealthier demographic” and family-friendly living areas with high-rise housing with green spaces and parks and included childcare.

Mrs Barry said a specific centre for the region's not-for-profits could also be created with residential living on top and basement parking and a site further out of town set aside for camping for grey nomads, families and more.

"Caloundra's success is that fact that it is different from Noosa, Mooloolaba, Maroochydore and the Gold Coast,” she said.

"We need to build on this image of difference.

"We want to attract a good local market from country areas, families and older people.”

Long-term resident Tony Barry was concerned about how residents would be attracted to the CBD under the new master plan. Picture: Patrick Woods

She called for all future unit developments to have two carparks per unit and called for parking to become free for the first hour and then increased fees after an hour, to encourage trade in the CBD.

Mrs Barry also wanted a proper water playground built at Kings Beach and the skatepark left at Dicky Beach.

Her husband Tony had concerns about how residents were going to be attracted to the new CBD, as well as tourists.

Les Sperling (C) and a number of other Omrah Ave residents have come up with alternative plans for the Caloundra Masterplan, which would save their homes being acquired by council. He's joined by Diane Taylor, Jim Street, Kelvin Taylor and Loella Sperling. Picture: Warren Lynam

Their calls came as Omrah Ave resident Les Sperling raised concerns his alternate plans proposed for the Transit Centre, existing council chambers and Omrah Ave zoning were being misunderstood by council.

Mr Sperling said their proposal to local the transit centre east-west "just off Nutley St behind the houses on the south side of Suller St” would not require property resumptions or displace open space, if the seven private allotments the council owned on the western end of Omrah Ave became part of Bicentennial Park.

He also questioned why an increase in height limits on his and other homes on the northern side of Omrah Ave were considered inconsistent with the adopted master plan and questioned why height limits of the existing council building were being increased if demolition hadn't been considered a viable option.

An artist's impression of a potential redevelopment option for the heart of the Caloundra CBD.

The adopted master plan was taken out for widespread community consultation in 2016.

The council's website said during that process about 900 people were engaged with and about 50,000 reached through a website and Facebook page.

The council received 247 completed surveys and 70 written submissions.

Feedback received during the events, displays and meetings was "generally positive” as was the feedback in the written submissions and surveys, the website stated.