War of words continues between council and Stockland over Aura South development

A developer’s efforts to kick start early assessments on what could be the Sunshine Coast’s next major housing development has been met with ire by the region’s mayor.

Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson has previously urged the state government to protect Halls Creek from development.

Stockland’s efforts to have its Aura South development in Halls Creek assessed by the federal government has been met with ire by the Sunshine Coast Council mayor.

Stockland had made a submission to the federal government for an independent environmental approval for its 1230ha of former pine land at Halls Creek.

Mayor Mark Jamieson said the developer’s referral under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act was premature and inconsistent with planning framework.

“Stockland, in its referral to the EPBC, has also failed to mention that development in Halls Creek is prohibited,” he said.

“Studies have shown that developing Halls Creek, located within the Glasshouse/Pumicestone Inter-Urban Break, would pose a high risk of unacceptable environmental impacts on the Pumicestone Passage and Ramsar Wetlands.”

Mayor Mark Jamieson has come out swinging against the Aura South development. Photo: Cade Mooney / Sunshine Coast Daily

Mr Jamieson said he would write to Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek and ask her to reject the referral “as there is no lawful basis upon which Stockland’s referral can be properly assessed”.

“This looks like a purely speculative exercise by Stockland, one which is probably more about increasing the value of their land holding rather than genuinely addressing the current housing crisis,” he said.

“They have purchased that land knowing it was, and remains, zoned for rural and conservation purposes.”

Stockland senior environment and community development manager Mark Stephens rebuffed Mr Jamieson’s claims and said the submission was a “lawful application”.

“It’s not uncommon for EPBC approvals to be sought early in the planning process,” he said.

“There’s no requirement under the EPBC Act to have either state or local planning approvals obtained first.”

The area at Halls Creek has been considered for development since the early 2000s, with fervent rejection by council each time it pops up.

Stockland owns more than 1200ha of land at Halls Creek where it hopes to expand its Caloundra South development.

The mostly cleared land is adjacent to and about half the size of the developer’s Caloundra South community, which will eventually be home to 50,000 people.

Stockland has not put a number on how many homes Halls Creek could provide, but 10,000 is a figure that has previously been estimated.

Mr Stephens said environmental planning was central to Stockland’s thinking.

“While there is no statutory requirement to rehabilitate Aura South, Stockland has proposed to rehabilitate 400 hectares (one third of the development) … which will strengthen biodiversity values of the area and create a three-kilometre vegetated buffer to assist in protecting the Pumicestone Passage,” he said.

Mr Jamieson said the community had always been opposed to this land being developed and that Stockland should be putting its focus elsewhere.

Mr Jamieson said Stockland had only constructed 6500 of the 13,000 housing lots approved in Caloundra South.

“At this moment, the developer has approval to create lots that would provide homes which would accommodate another 15,000 people,” he said.

“That’s a lot of homes which would go a long way towards helping the housing crisis and should be Stockland’s priority.”

A preferable development, according to Mr Jamieson, was in Beerwah East.

“Beerwah East is more suited to future urban development because it would provide sufficient greenfield housing supply well beyond 2046, able to house more than 50,000 people,” he said.

Development company Stockland owns large tracts of land at Halls Creek.

Mr Stephens said Stockland’s plans would help ease the housing crisis currently gripping the region.

“We acknowledge the important role Beerwah East also has to play in accommodating future growth but are unable to comment on its timing and the status of resolving its planning and environmental constraints,” he said.

“Sites such as Aura South present a great opportunity to meet some of the region’s future housing needs.

“Much of the site is elevated, already cleared and has easy access to Aura’s existing and committed infrastructure.”

A spokesman for the federal environment department did not say the EPBC referral for Aura South was unlawful but that issues relating to land use planning were still the responsibility of relevant state agencies and local government.

“Any decision under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) would not override requirements for approvals under other relevant laws,” he said.

Ms Plibersek has the power to make decisions in relation to matters of national environmental significance.