Roy family member opposes Coochin Creek tourist park plans
Well-known Queensland pub barons face opposition from a member of one of the Sunshine Coast’s pioneering families over their Coochin Creek development, contradicting claims of unanimous family backing.
A member of a prominent Sunshine Coast family has shared concerns about a controversial tourist park and festival site development.
Shannan Roy, a seventh generation member of the well-known pioneering Sunshine Coast Roy family in Coochin Creek, said he was concerned about the impacts the latest development proposal would have on Pumicestone Passage and surrounding environment.
The proposal put forward by the Comiskey Group, hoteliers behind Sandstone Point, The Doonan and Eatons Hill, seeks to transform a sprawling site in Coochin Creek into a major tourist attraction.
Plans show a campground, which would include 75 cabins and 75 campsites, along with a separate festival site to accommodate up to 35,000 people.
Mr Roy said while he supported development, he ultimately wanted to see the development group choose a different location.
“I understand development and progress, I’m certainly not against that, I’m also seventh generation and we’ve been pioneers of Beerwah and Roys Rd at Coochin Creek,” Mr Roy said.
“But Pumicestone Passage is extremely important, it is internationally recognised and it has unique characteristics, to me it is just as important ecologically as the Great Barrier Reef.”
Golden Beach resident, Ken Mewburn, said the biggest concern was the development was located in a “very sensitive part of the catchment”.
“It falls in Pumicestone Passage and it is also in the boundaries of the interurban break the community groups fought for years to get extended,” Mr Mewburn said.
“Now that has happened we could lose part of it to a development.”
Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie used ministerial power to call in the Comiskey Group’s plans in June.
The call-in allows Mr Bleijie to assess and decide the proposal, overriding the Sunshine Coast Council’s rejection of the development.
The two separate applications, one for the campground and another for the festival site, were then referred to the State Assessment and Referral Agency for recommendations.
In August, the SARA recommendations ultimately stated the proposal for the campground should be refused, followed by a further refusal recommendation for the festival site in September.
Comiskey Group director Rob Comiskey said he believed the project was a “significant contribution” and referred to support received from other members of the Roy family.
“We’ve received numerous messages from members of the Roy family over recent months, all confirming they have no concerns regarding the proposed project at Coochin Creek,” Mr Comiskey said.
“We understand there may be differing views within any community, but the feedback we’ve received directly from members of the family has indicated ‘no concerns’.
“Importantly, the project will enhance the environmental values of the area through extensive revegetation, habitat restoration, and a significant reduction in pesticides and fertilisers currently present in the soil.
“Our plan transitions the land from agricultural intensity to long-term ecological rehabilitation parkland which holds events and festivals approx. 30 days a year.”
A period of public consultation was held regarding the development between October 24 and November 17.
Ten community organisations, including the Sunshine Coast Environment Council and the Caloundra Residents Association, have come together to oppose the development.
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