Sekisui, Beerwah Coles on list of Sunshine Coast’s most controversial developments
Ranging from a service station to a $10m mansion, these developments were all clouded with controversy and community criticism. See which projects made the list.
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As development booms on the Sunshine Coast, some projects facing council approval in the last year weren’t received so well by members of the community.
The developments range from a service station to a $10m mansion, but they all share common ground for causing contention.
With some residents raising environmental concerns and others complaining about the project’s appearance, take a look below at some of the proposals that have rocked Sunshine Coast community groups in 2021.
Sekisui House, Yaroomba Beach
Sekisui House’s hotel and residential development at Yaroomba is a controversial billion-dollar beachside development.
Residents were mainly concerned about the scale of the development and the impacts on traffic.
The Planning and Environment Court dismissed the appeals in May 2020 and issued updated conditions of approval in June 2020.
Yandina service station
A service station, planned for the corner of Stevens and Farrell streets, has been the subject of objection from Yandina community and business groups.
One issue raised by the community was that a service station did not suit the character and heritage feel of the particular site.
However, a spokesman for developer Pearl Energy said the design of the service station and shop recognised the history of the Sunshine Coast’s oldest town.
The development application was knocked back by Sunshine Coast Council in June, due to the proposal not keeping with the town’s streetscape character or heritage values.
“It does not follow the pattern of existing development in the Yandina local centre with buildings located towards the street,” the council’s decision notice read.
Connor O’Meara Solicitors filed a notice of appeal at the Brisbane Planning and Environment Court against the decision.
In the appeal notice, the solicitors argued the development must be approved: “given it complied with the relevant assessment benchmarks”.
The appeal has not yet been decided.
Buddina unit development
A Sunshine Coast community group was left shattered after their attempt to block a controversial beachside unit development was dismissed in court.
Judge Gary Long ruled against Friends of Buddina after it took Sunshine Coast Council and Pacific Diamond 88 to court to appeal against the 73-unit and 21m-high The Beachfront Buddina development.
Friends of Buddina’s Kate Harvey said the group was disappointed with the decision and hoped the loss wouldn’t lead to a domino effect of developments around their coastal suburb.
Court documents say the community group identified “three errors” in the Amended Originating Application relating to beachfront character, the coastal ecosystem, and views and vistas.
But Judge Long dismissed the application.
More than 1000 signatures and 84 submissions were fielded in opposition to the development along the picturesque Buddina beach.
Nambour retirement village
A controversial proposed retirement village near Nambour was given the go ahead after the Sunshine Coast Council granted developers a preliminary approval.
The Highgate Development project was put to council in November 2020 for a 275-home retirement village at Savilles Road in Nambour.
The controversial village has been met with a barrage of concerns from local residents and the Sunshine Coast Environment Council.
The developers were slapped with 64 conditions by council and asked to provide a revised plan to demonstrate that management facilities and care facilities would be available to support and meet the needs of residents.
Some of the resident’s concerns included a loss of koala habitat and potential impact on agricultural land use.
Beerwah shopping centre
Coles Group Property Developments lodged plans with Sunshine Coast Council last year for a Coles supermarket, McDonald’s restaurant, petrol station, retail showroom, gym and light industry development.
It was knocked back at the time due to the council's concerns with the proposal.
Changes were then made to the application for the 11.29ha site, at the corner of Roys Rd and Steve Irwin Way at Beerwah.
Revised plans lodged with the council showed the proposal would provide a single full-line supermarket within a homemaker-styled centre.
The plans caused upheaval in the tight-knit Beerwah community with some businesses concerned a loss of trade could be their death knell.
More than 50 public submissions were made to the council regarding the application, with 42 objections registered and only 17 submissions in support of the project.
Dicky Beach mansion
A four-storey Dicky Beach mansion that a neighbouring resident dubbed the “Super IGA” caused some controversy after it was approved.
Residents and store holders along the strip questioned how the Wilson Ave home of that size could be approved in that spot.
The building drew criticism from Division 2 councillor Terry Landsberg who questioned its height, size and scope and the precedent it would set.
Mr Landsberg said the property was approved before he started at Sunshine Coast Council.
A Sunshine Coast Council spokeswoman said the building work for the dwelling was approved by a Queensland Building and Construction Commission licensed private building certifier on June 21, 2019.
She said a development application for the site which was lodged with the council in October 2018 and approved less than a month later related only to acid sulfate soils and coastal protection overlay codes.
Twin Waters West
A controversial proposal with a 13-year history for a master planned community next to Twin Waters was shot down by Sunshine Coast Council in July.
A majority of councillors voted against Stockland’s bid to develop a 104ha flood plain for its residential project years in the making.
Division eight councillor Jason O'Pray put forward a motion to reject the proposal, contrary to the recommendation given to councillors that it should go ahead.
Flood risk, traffic concerns and a lack of community support were cited in Cr O’Pray’s motion against the development.
The development, neighbouring Twin Waters and Pacific Paradise, would have eventually included 645 homes, with 171 included in the first two stages of construction.
A Stockland spokesman said they were “extremely disappointed” in the outcome and the company would review the decision and its position.
Peregian corner store development
The sudden end to a court dispute for the controversial development of a prime beachfront block left Noosa Council out of pocket.
Developer Andema bailed out of its court action against the council’s refusal of a proposed office, dining and retail precinct at the former Peregian Beach Friendly Grocer in Herron Street.
Peregian Beach Community Association welcomed the decision and called on the developer to lodge new plans for the village square site for a more suitable development.
Association spokesman Barry Cotterell said the site should be developed into something that was not a threat to the area’s “low-key village style”.
Development assessment manager Kerri Coyle said the council wanted the Peregian Beach site developed in a way that met the community’s expectations and complied with the planning scheme.
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Originally published as Sekisui, Beerwah Coles on list of Sunshine Coast’s most controversial developments
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