REFUSED: Controversial tourist park a no go

Sunshine Coast Council has refused the proposition for a tourist park in a “tourism node” citing multiple reasons.

Sunshine Coast Council have refused SEQ Investment Group Pty Ltd's application for a tourism park (Koongalba Rural Retreat Tourist Park) on a 14-hectare property on Carrs Rd, Bridges, near Yandina. Picture: Ken Down Architects

Sunshine Coast Council stated the proposition for a tourist park on a 15ha property in a Coast “tourism node” failed to prove its benefit.

The application was for 229 camping, cabin and “glamping” sites along Carrs Rd at Bridges, near Yandina, submitted in 2017.

Original plans for the “Koongalba Rural Retreat Tourist Park” showed 165 powered and unpowered camping sites, 41 cabins and 23 glamping tents.

Other facilities included a cooking school, restaurant, pool, gym, playground, kids club, farm paddocks and animal nursery, lagoon and natural watercourse.

Brisbane-based developer SEQ Investment Group Pty Ltd, directed by William Hu, argued the development would be useful for the area given the range of tourism drivers and the limited short-term accommodation options available.

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The council’s refusal notice was handed down last week and agreed with some of the 22 public submissions objecting to the development.

Sunshine Coast Council have refused SEQ Investment Group Pty Ltd's application for a tourism park (Koongalba Rural Retreat Tourist Park) on Carrs Rd, Bridges, near Yandina. Picture: Supplied

Some mentioned a loss of good agricultural land, no need for it and a lack of need and lack of community and economic benefit.

“The proposed development … would result in the alienation or fragmentation of … good quality agricultural land (and) is not consistent with the rural setting, character and amenity of the rural zone,” the council’s statement read.

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It was also determined the plans departed from various assessment benchmarks.

“The applicant has not presented any relevant matters to demonstrate how, on balance, the social, economic and environmental benefits of the development would overcome the conflicts with the assessment benchmarks,” the notice stated.

The council noted a failure to present risk minimisation from flood hazards and protection for the riparian corridor.

The original plans of the proposed Koongalba Rural Retreat Tourist Park on an almost 15-hectare property. Picture: Ken Down Architects

The rejection follows years of opposition including from Yandina and District Community Association.

“It’s been a lengthy campaign for us, but in summary, we just didn’t think it was the right place for a tourist park,” president Nigel Anns said.

“We were always sceptical whether the proposal was genuine.”

He believed it would have failed as a tourist park “and potentially become the third tourist park in Yandina to provide permanent housing for low-income residents”.

The Daily previously reported residents were also concerned about the developers prediction that the region needed an extra 300 tourist park sites during the next decade, considering the council’s plans to increase the town’s population by 39 per cent by 2036.

An artist impression of one of the buildings that was proposed. Picture: Ken Down Architects

The applicant has the right to appeal the council’s decision.

The Daily contacted Mr Hu who said he was awaiting his consultant’s advice on the next step.

He could not confirm whether another application would be made.

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The company director bought the land in 2004 for $450,000 under the company name International Investment and Education Centre.

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