Sunshine Coast Council rejects controversial Pacific Paradise development

Sparks have flown among Qld councillors, with developer relationships raised and one claiming his division is doing the ‘heavy lifting’ to ease the housing crisis, as debate over a controversial development took place. HAVE YOUR SAY.

The Sunshine Coast Council city hall . Picture: Sam Turner

A large-scale development, set to bust height limits by six metres in certain areas, has been refused by a Queensland council despite calls for more housing in the region.

The development application for 11-13 Menzies Drive and 698706 David Low Way at Pacific Paradise was first lodged by developer John Goulter with the Sunshine Coast Council in 2023.

After ongoing consultation, revised plans for the complex were presented to councillors at the ordinary meeting on Thursday, July 24, along with a recommendation from planning officers to approve the development.

The updated plans showed designs for four buildings, with a mix of short-term accommodation and residential units, as well as a food and drink outlet.

According to the council planning officer the revised development would still exceed height limits by up to 6.3 metres in certain areas, with three buildings reaching four storeys.

The council was told that during public submissions 66 people opposed the development and three people supported it.

Initial plans for the Pacific Paradise development application were revised to lower the heights on three buildings.

According to the planning officer, the site at Pacific Paradise remained zoned for sports and recreation, despite the former North Shore Bowls Club closing down in 2019.

Councillor Taylor Bunnag urged the council to refuse the application, despite the planning officer’s recommendation.

Mr Bunnag previously declared he had a conflict of interest with the project, which he noted on Thursday for “transparency”.

“The proposal is clearly inconsistent with the planning scheme,” Mr Bunnag said.

Mr Bunnag’s arguments were met with a round of applause from the public in the council chamber.

Mr Bunnag also criticised the argument the development was supported by the state government’s bus project, The Wave, claiming the council had received no details regarding where the bus service would end at the Sunshine Coast Airport.

Taylor Bunnag. Picture: Supplied

Councillor Winston Johnston told the council he also did not agree with the planning officer’s recommendation.

“If we approve this we are approving the construction of three buildings in the sport and recreation zone,” Mr Johnston said.

“It worries me that this is not just a minor increase in height that we can just overlook.

“I worry about where we go from here.”

Division 4 Councillor Joe Natoli at Mooloolaba. Photo: John McCutcheon / Sunshine Coast Daily

Councillor Joe Natoli said he believed the developer would be able to start the project “immediately”, arguing the region needed the project to combat the housing crisis.

“Support our community, support the need for housing,” Mr Natoli said.

Mr Natoli said his division in Mooloolaba was currently copping the “heavy lifting” to meet the region’s population growth.

“392 changes to increases to height in my division,” Mr Natoli said.

“My division is doing a massive lift when it comes to height increases.”

Mr Johnston said he was worried about Mr Natoli’s knowledge about the developer, questioning whether there was a conflict of interest.

“I have never met, I don’t even know who the developer is,” Mr Natoli responded.

The council was ultimately told it was not a declarable of conflict of interest.

Mayor Rosanna Natoli along with Councillor Jenny Broderick, Councillor Tim Burns, Mr Johnston, Councillor Christian Dickson, Councillor Ted Hungerford, Mr Bunnag, Councillor Maria Suarez and Councillor David Law voted to support the refusal of the development.

Councillor Terry Landsberg and Mr Natoli voted against Mr Bunnag’s motion to refuse the development.

Originally published as Sunshine Coast Council rejects controversial Pacific Paradise development