Maroochydore residents slam proposed unit development at Sunshine Cove
Sunshine Coast residents living in an urban community claim a proposed unit complex almost 200m in length will wreck their coastal lifestyle.
Sunshine Coast
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Sunshine Coast residents living in a residential community claim a gigantic unit complex will wreck their coastal lifestyle, if it is built.
Sunshine Cove residents have expressed their concerns over a proposal to build a multiple dwelling complex with 128 units at Lot 904 Sunrise Dr, Maroochydore.
The development application was lodged by Living Choice Australia in April 2022, with the proposed Somerton apartment complex to consist of two, five-storey buildings measuring 84m and 69m in length, spaced out over 187m, including a semi-basement car park area.
The site has frontage of 200m to Sunshine Cove Way to the south, 70m to Amity Ave to the east and 30m to Sunrise Dr to the west.
According to a town planning report lodged by Innovative Planning Solutions on behalf of the applicant, a development approval was issued by council for a “preliminary approval overriding the planning scheme” after the land was acquired by the applicant (and developer) in 2001 and in 2004.
Initially slated to be a six-storey development, the current proposal consists of four residential storeys, five including the car park, with a height of 16.2m.
However, in an information request to the developers, the council outlined that the development in its current form was “significantly non-compliant” with the prescribed height limit of 15m and density ratio as detailed in the Wises Farm preliminary approval document.
In response, the developers reduced the overall height of the proposed development to its current height of 16.12m.
A Living Choice Australia spokesman said a “performance-based outcome for consideration” would be sought for the development.
“The current proposal has a maximum height of 16.12m above natural ground to accommodate the necessary projection of lift cores,” he said.
“The code for the area has a threshold of 15m above natural ground and we are seeking a performance-based outcome for consideration for the 1.12m projections as part of the impact assessment process.
“These heights are still under the permissible heights (up to 25m) established originally under the Sunshine Cove master plan.”
During the public notification period for the development, which ended on February 19, 2024 with more than 100 submissions made, residents expressed concerns relating to the height of the development, property values, impacts on breeze, lighting, and parking.
Sunshine Cove resident Doug Fry was one of many community members to make a submission and expressed numerous concerns over the development.
“It’s a monstrosity of a building, 187 metres long, that’s almost two football fields long,” he said.
“A building that large is going to overshadow all the homes that have already been built in that area.
“It’s going to cut out cooling breezes in summer, it’ll interfere with natural lighting, there will be car parking dramas.
“The whole thing just doesn’t suit the area, it’s going to look completely out of place, and it’s just going to be a disaster.”
Fellow Maroochydore resident Ashley Sedon said that the development would impact on the amenity of the area.
“What is proposed is too large, too high, and inconsistent to the low-rise, informal character of Sunshine Cove, with little if any regard to the neighbourhood amenity and access to facilities offered in the vicinity,” Mr Sedon said.
“Traffic movements, on-street parking demand and noise will not be of a scale acceptable.
“It is not consistent with what is expected for this area, it’s not on.”
Sunshine Coast Council has been contacted for comment.
The developer was also contacted regarding the residents’ comments.
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