RACV Noosa Resort expansion plans to be appealed in Planning and Environment Court
A development stoush over expansion plans for a luxury five-star resort at Noosa is headed to court, after the application was knocked back by the council due to environmental concerns.
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A development stoush over expansion plans for a luxury five-star resort at Noosa is headed to court, after the application was knocked back by the council due to environmental concerns.
Noosa Council voted to defend its refusal of a development application related to an expansion of the RACV Noosa Resort, Noosa Heads, in the Planning and Environment Court, at a general committee meeting on Monday, January 15.
It comes after the applicants, the Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV), lodged a Notice to Appeal in the Planning and Environment Court on December 15, 2023, for its plans to add 15 self-contained dwelling units, a new lagoon pool, additional car parking and to alter access at their resort at 94 & 142 Noosa Drive, to be approved, subject to conditions.
In a statement, resort manager Darren McClenaghan confirmed a Notice of Appeal had been submitted.
“On December 15, 2023, RACV Noosa Resort submitted a Notice of Appeal to the Planning and Environment Court appealing Noosa Shire Council’s rejection of our planning application to create an eco-precinct in an area of land, mostly zoned as tourist accommodation, within the resort,” Mr McClenaghan said.
“The proposal was to leave 80 per cent of the bushland intact with a minimal development footprint of 20 per cent achieved by using elevated buildings and walkways to minimise impact, enhance the current biodiversity and natural vegetation, and allow for koala movement through the site.”
“Over several years, advice was obtained from a koala expert, ecologist, arborist consultant, bushfire expert, town planning expert, and engineers to ensure the development would not cause significant environmental harm and will be sustainable in the long term, particularly with respect to maintaining koala habitat.
“The project would provide significant community benefits in the short and long term through construction and employment, with increased tourist spend visiting the area to enjoy this unique experience will come economic benefits for local suppliers, retailers, and tourism operators, plus the employment of additional local staff.”
Noosa Council refused the development application at its Ordinary Meeting on November 16, 2023, primarily citing reasons related to the environment.
Development Assessment Manager Patrick Murphy said “the matter is in order for council to defend”.
“It was refused due to the unacceptable loss of vegetation, the proposed development being an overdevelopment of the land at the expense of the site’s natural values, non compliance with the Noosa plan requirements for the development within the environmental management and conservation zone, stormwater and drainage, and development outside the urban boundary,” Mr Murphy said.
RACV Noosa Resort initially lodged plans with the Noosa Council in June, 2022, with the proposal including plans for eight buildings comprising 15, two-storey dwelling units, accompanied by 18 parking spaces.
All buildings as part of the development were going to be elevated structures, with the buildings connected by a timber boardwalk.
A tree clearing plan submitted as part of the application showed that the development was going to result in the removal of a minimum of 71 native trees, up to 82 trees, with a minimum of 27 trees being those used by koalas.
Due to council’s decision to refuse the application, the applicant has now lodged an appeal to the Planning and Environment Court.
The resort hosted the St Kilda AFL team during the Covid-19 pandemic, after the whole team relocated north to finish the 2020 season.
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Originally published as RACV Noosa Resort expansion plans to be appealed in Planning and Environment Court
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