Clive Palmer withdraws car museum proposal for Yaroomba car museum resort

Clive Palmer has withdrawn his application for a hugely controversial, enormous, luxury car museum, labelled an “eyesore” by Sunshine Coast locals. DETAILS

CIive Palmer won’t be having a luxury car museum on the Sunshine Coast.

Clive Palmer has pulled the pin on his hugely controversial, enormous, luxury car museum application, labelled an “eyesore” by Sunshine Coast locals.

He has withdrawn his application for a massive car museum at the Palmer Coolum Resort, Yaroomba, on the eve of a Sunshine Coast Council meeting where councillors were going to vote on the application.

Clive Palmer withdraws car museum proposal for Yaroomba car museum resort.

The six-storey car museum proposed by Clive Palmer was fronted by almost 800 submissions made by the Sunshine Coast community, with an overwhelming majority not in support of the plans.

Mr Palmer lodged his application with Sunshine Coast Council for a 22m tall luxury car museum at Palmer Coolum Resort, which has also been subject to $100m refurbishment plans since 2021.

The proposal outlined for the museum to hold 879 cars and 363 motorcycles from Mr Palmer’s vintage and luxury collection on an 11,644 sqm site.

Clive Palmer has withdrawn his application for a massive car museum at Palmer Coolum Resort at Yaroomba.

It was expected to draw up to 189,000 visitors per year, the development application had stated.

Many council submission comments called for the museum to be moved to a different location and several more labelled the building an “eyesore” and “out of character” with Yaroomba.

Sunshine Coast residents submitted additional concerns such as increased traffic in an area surrounded by wildlife.

Submissions in favour of the planned attraction welcomed the employment opportunities which would emerge within the locality and its increase in tourism.

Render of the car museum previously proposed at Palmer Coolum Resort at Yaroomba.

The car museum application was likely to be rejected following a council officer report recommending its refusal saying it didn’t comply with the planning scheme.

According to the council report there were 11 reasons it didn’t comply including exceeding the height allowed for a tourist attraction.

The council officer said its “large-scale commercial character” would be “prominent and incongruous”.

“The proposed development has a built form of a size that is significantly larger than any building in the surrounding area and that would be visible from numerous public and private locations, including from Mount Coolum,” the report said.

Render of the car museum previously proposed at Palmer Coolum Resort at Yaroomba.

“The proposed development does not exhibit characteristics of scale, site planning and design which are compatible with the natural features of the area.

“The proposed development would not provide for the enhancement of the character of tourist precinct as it is not compatible with that of the existing development and the desired character of the locality having regard to building height and bulk.”

Clive Palmer’s media representative was contacted for comment, however said he was “in north QLD fishing”.

Originally published as Clive Palmer withdraws car museum proposal for Yaroomba car museum resort