The developers of a proposed retirement resort earmarked for a hinterland town will make a last-ditch effort to have the project approved.
An application for approval for the 214-home development, partly on land of an existing golf course, was rejected by Noosa Council in March 2021.
The matter has since been referred to the Planning and Environment Court, with a hearing set to begin on July 26.
Innovative Planning Solutions first submitted a development application on behalf of its client GTH Project No.4 Pty Ltd in September 2019 for the GemLife Cooroy project.
However, the proposal was unanimously rejected by councillors citing inconsistencies with the Noosa Plan, plus impact on the environment, nearby Lake Macdonald water catchment and Cooroy’s existing infrastructure.
The number of dwellings was originally proposed at 246, but has since been reduced to 214.
In April 2021, GemLife filed a Notice of Appeal in the Planning and Environment Court and in February 2023 lodged a Minor Change Application.
Located on 11.08 hectares of land at 144 Myall Street, Cooroy, the development would adjoin the existing 18-hole Cooroy Golf Club.
It would require 1.83 hectares of golf course land, and in return GemLife would commission a redesign of the golf course and construct a new clubhouse.
GemLife’s Minor Change Application included moving the entry road to the residential estate to run through Cooroy Golf Club property.
Entry was initially proposed on private property land that was under contract to GemLife, as per the original application to Noosa Council.
Due to the changes, the court ordered that evidence be provided that Cooroy Golf Club members were in agreeance with the new plans.
A Special General Meeting was held on July 20 at the club, where the management committee urged members to vote in favour of the development.
Members voted to support the development application, with 91 votes to 39.
Cooroy Veterans’ Golf Club captain Grant Smallacombe outlined in a public notice to club members that the development would move the club from “surviving to thriving”.
“Achieving sustainable financial growth is nearly impossible,” the notice read.
“The club is falling behind in an area that is growing significantly, leaving us vulnerable.
“I make no secret of the fact that I support the GemLife proposal and see it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the Cooroy Golf Club to move forward and put something in place that will be here for future generations to enjoy.”
The Cooroy Area Residents Association (CARA) has joined with the Noosa Council as co-respondent in the appeal, echoing the council’s stance.
CARA president Rod Ritchie told Sunshine Coast News the organisation was concerned regarding the impact the development might have on Cooroy.
“For Cooroy residents, there is literally zero gain from the proposal and, in fact, more pain as the intersections further clog up and town infrastructure, already stretched, comes under more pressure,” Mr Ritchie said.
“Cooroy is already bursting at the seams.”
Sunshine Coast News contacted GemLife, however the company declined to comment.
“We are unable to provide a comment at this time due to the matter being before the court,” a statement read.
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