Eco Cottages to appeal Noosa Council rejection of social housing plan

A battle for a major social housing project in Noosa is far from over with the developer claiming council’s rejection as showing it has a “lack of moral obligation”.

Eco Cottages managing director Greg Phipps is launching a Planning and Environment Court appeal regarding a Noosa Council decision over his plan for social housing in Cooroy. Picture: Patrick Woods.

A developer behind a social housing proposal in Cooroy is taking the Noosa Council to court over its rejection of the plan.

Eco Cottages has proposed a 33-home social housing park for a 2.4ha block on Carpenters Rd in Cooroy, with sustainable and safe housing for families, elderly women and essential workers.

The council staff shot down the plan for the park in a report to councillors and the development application was rejected by the council last month.

The council report stated the land was not well located “being more than 400m from the town centre” and did not “integrate well” with the existing settlement pattern for the hinterland town, among other issues.

The council rejected the application for those reasons and for others including that the application was “contrary” to the Noosa Plan, was in the vicinity of industrial land uses, was outside the council’s urban boundary and that the Eco Cottages’ application was “likely to inhibit the development” and future use of council-owned land on Carpenters Rd, among other reasons.

Eco Cottages managing director Greg Phipps wants to build 33 eco cottages at Cooroy to help provide a solution to the region's social and affordable housing crisis. Picture: Patrick Woods.

The modular home business owner Greg Phipps said he had signed the paperwork to lodge an appeal in the Planning and Environment Court and was working with an architect and environmental planner on a report to support his case.

“I’m really disappointed in council, their lack of moral obligation to the community,” he said.

The interior of an Eco Cottages home. Picture: Patrick Woods.

“We all have this moral obligation to address this dangerous situation.”

The builder said the report being compiled for the court would also be sent to the state government ministers for housing and planning, Meaghan Scanlon and Steven Miles.

Mr Phipps said he had spent more than $100,000 on the council application and another $10,000 so far on the formal appeal.

He had previously told the Sunshine Coast Daily that he had started talking to the council staff about the project more than two years ago.

The council responded at the time by stating that it had to seek “further clarification” on a number of matters regarding the application.

Acting chief executive officer Larry Sengstock said the council recognised the housing challenges the community faced.

“We welcome proposals that offer smaller, more affordable housing options,” he said.

“However, it is essential developments are thoughtfully situated and ultimately contribute to positive planning outcomes.”

He said planning staff explained the reasons the land was unsuitable “to the applicant” during a pre-lodgement meeting and on “subsequent” occasions.

The acting chief executive said that social and low-cost housing was a state responsibility.

“(The council) recognises there are things we can do to support its roll out, and we’re acting,” Mr Sengstock said.

“We’ve developed a series of planning scheme amendments aimed at facilitating more affordable and social housing.

“Once these amendments receive state approval, we are eager to undertake public consultation on these before implementing them.”

He said the council had also identified council land suitable for affordable housing.

Originally published as Eco Cottages to appeal Noosa Council rejection of social housing plan