WHAT THEY SAID: Councillors justify Twin Waters votes
Stockland’s Twin Waters West development was rejected by council this week. See what each councillor had to say about the controversial project.
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It was considered a crucial meeting for the new Sunshine Coast Council on Thursday as it decided the fate of Stockland's Twin Waters West development.
The officer's recommendation was to approve the application for the 108-lot masterplanned community that would include 645 dwellings across 104ha at Twin Waters.
But Division 8 councillor Jason O'Pray's alternative motion to throw out the application was supported, eight votes to two.
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REFUSED: Councillors vote down Twin Waters West development
Cr O'Pray was backed by Rick Baberowski, Joe Natoli, Winston Johnston, Christian Dickson, Ted Hungerford, Jason O'Pray, Maria Suarez and David Law.
Councillors Terry Landsberg and Peter Cox voted against it.
Due to COVID-19 the meeting was closed to the public, but it was streamed online.
Here is what each councillor had to say about the development:
Mayor Mark Jamieson
Mayor Mark Jamieson did not vote or participate in the debate after leaving the meeting room due to a perceived conflict of interest.
He said he received advice ahead of Thursday's meeting that submitters to a development application could prompt conflict of interests.
Deputy Mayor Rick Baberowski said he believed Cr O'Pray, divisional councillor for Twin Waters, gave a compelling argument against the development.
"If I considered this to be in Pumicestone Passage, how would I view the compounding impact this would cause on the waterway system, in this case being in such proximity to the Maroochy River," Cr Baberowksi said.
"I would defend the water quality with a passion if it was Pumicestone Passage … I'm just too uncomfortable with the potential impacts on the Maroochy River and the waterway system in general in order to support the officer's recommendation."
Councillor Terry Landsberg spoke in support of Stockland's proposed development.
"We have to look to the future and I'd like to see this go through in terms of the impact it would have on the community," he said.
"People want to live by the ocean.
"We've seen what has happened at Pelican Creek and Kawana Waters, they're all areas that have been developed.
"I've got a lot of confidence (the developer) can control the amount of water that will move through this site."
Potential harm to council's reputation was one of the reasons councillor Peter Cox declared he would support the development.
He noted Twin Waters West would have 10.8 dwellings per hectare, which he said was comparable to 10.7 dwellings per hectare at Twin Waters estate.
"We know that there's already an appeal history associated with this site and I unfortunately see this as groundhog day, I think that's where it's going to end up if this motion gets up today," he said.
"It's in the urban footprint, the zoning is there, council assessment team gave preliminary approval … if we knock this back today there is a real reputation risk and that is not to be taken lightly."
Councillor Joe Natoli accused the former council of not taking community feedback seriously in 2017, the last time a vote was called on the Twin Waters West development.
In April 2017, the council voted in favour of rezoning the flood-prone rural land to urban residential development, paving the way for the proposal to continue.
"I don't even know why we're here," Cr Natoli said.
"We shouldn't be here debating this today if the planning scheme amendment never got up.
"I ask the question, who are we listening to?
"It's obvious, we must be listening to the developer, we're not listening to the community because we are ignoring the community when they talk to us."
Councillor Winston Johnston said he was "frustrated" by the former council's rezoning decision.
He said the decision placed council's planning officers in an "extremely difficult" position and spoke of his disappointment in development applications generally.
"I've always been opposed to development in flood plains where there can be any risk
associated with living in those areas," Cr Johnston said.
"I've seen over the years many consultants reports that have been prepared for developers. "The sad part is that if a developer asks a consultant to do a report showing such and such that's generally what they get.
"It's always been in my experience that it's more likely that it's what's not in the report that's the important facts."
Councillor Dickson apologised for voting in favour of rezoning the area, and said it was the wrong decision.
He said those in support of the Twin Waters West application were largely from the development industry.
"While they don't mean any malice, those who were supporting it in recent days are the development industry," he said.
"It's those who are set to make money from the development."
Cr Dickson seconded Cr O'Pray's motion.
Councillor Ted Hungerford, who in 2017 voted against the planning scheme amendment, said Stockland's Twin Waters West development did not comply with the town plan.
"The most compelling thing that people have put to me on why we should approve this today is because it complies with the town plan," he said.
"But it doesn't read like that here.
"The applicant is seeking preliminary approval, including a variation request to the planning scheme.
"This type of preliminary approval may establish specific assessment provisions and will then apply in assessing any future development application relating to the land.
"Is that in line with the town plan? No."
Division 8 councillor Jason O'Pray's motion to refuse the development application gained majority support from the councillors.
He said there were three things to consider: "Yes or no, does this application conform, does this application have community support and will this development be equal to or better than Twin Waters estate?"
He said the development did not provide protection of Settlers Park, and raised concern for density and lot sizes being inconsistent with Twin Waters estate.
His motion also noted off-site flood impacts, loss of flood plain storage, concerns with water quality on the proposed lake, and potential impacts on the proposed Dedicated Public Transport Corridor (CAMCOS).
Following the vote, Cr O'Pray thanked the councillors.
"What an extraordinary example of democracy on the Sunshine Coast," Cr O'Pray said.
Councillor Maria Suarez said Twin Waters residents would only support the development if it was equal to, or better than the existing estate.
"Councillor Cox touched on (lot sizes), that Twin Waters West would have 10.8 dwellings per hectare and Twin Waters has 10.7," she said.
"However when you look at average lot size Twin Waters West would have an average lot size of 551sq m per lot, where Twin Waters has 705.9sq m, that's a significant difference."
Councillor David Law said that during his election campaign he stood on a platform of sustainable development.
He said Twin Waters West could be described as a "high risk" development.
"In terms of climate change and in terms of flooding it feels like a high risk development," Cr Law said.
"Post-COVID when we think of the economy, will banks provide home loans for people to build in a high risk area where they won't be able to insure their homes due to flooding risk?
"I don't know the answer to that."
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