Sunshine Coast residents set to fight Palmwoods subdivision in court

Residents outraged by the Sunshine Coast Council’s approval of a controversial development in Palmwoods have taken their concerns to court, in the hopes they can block subdivision.

The site of a 10-lot subdivision planned for Palmwoods.

Residents outraged by the Sunshine Coast Council’s approval of a controversial development in Palmwoods have taken their concerns to court, in the hopes they can block the 10-lot subdivision.

The block at 55A Old Orchard Drive, Palmwoods spans about 8,434 sq m and was granted council approval to be divided into 10 individual lots by developer, PIP Investments (Aus) Pty Ltd, in May this year.

According to the development application, submitted to the council in September 2023, the residential blocks would be about 1.8km from the Palmwoods town centre.

The application made in the Planning and Environment Court in June is brought by a total of 23 applicants against the Sunshine Coast Council and PIP Investments.

According to the court application, the proposed development is “not consistent with community expectations”, with the applicants further claiming there is “no need” for the subdivision.

The approved plans for a subdivision in Palmwoods featuring 10 residential blocks.

The court documents also raise a number of environmental issues, stating the site is adjacent to a waterway and riverine wetland as well as a koala restoration area.

“(The development) does not protect the natural environment of the land or enhance it in a way that maintains and improves biodiversity, ecological processes, habitat and habitat connectivity, landscape character and amenity, and community wellbeing,” the documents stated.

“It does not provide for ecological buffers and other measures to protect and improve ecological functioning and water quality.”

During the council’s public submissions on the proposal 38 people objected to the development with a further 441 signatures collected on a related petition.

The court documents also mentioned the “oddly” shaped lots, with one proposed to make a triangular shape, as well the small lot sizes that do not fit the “identity” of the Palmwoods area.

A Sunshine Coast Council spokesman said they were unable to comment on the Palmwoods plan as it was still before the court.