The proposed Aura South development will be assessed by the Commonwealth Government via a Public Environment Report process.
Stockland is attempting to secure environmental approval for development of the 1231-hectare (3041-acre) site, which is also known as Halls Creek and located to the east of the Bruce Highway, directly south Aura.
But the proposal has met with stiff opposition, with Sunshine Coast mayor Mark Jamieson saying the referral under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act had “no lawful basis”.
A spokesperson said Stockland welcomed notification from the Commonwealth that the proposed development would be assessed via a Public Environment Report.
“This will ensure a rigorous scientific and independent assessment of the site’s environmental merits and is a similar process that was undertaken for the neighbouring Aura masterplanned community,” they said.
“The PER assessment process ensures there are opportunities for stakeholder consultation and engagement.
“Stockland is looking forward to talking with and seeking feedback from the community and all levels of government on our vision for the site and the approaches to protecting the environmental values of the land and surrounding areas.
“Following the EPBC assessment process, Aura South will apply for state government assessment and approvals to proceed.
“Developable landholdings like Aura South can play a significant role in addressing housing supply and affordability, as well as drive job creation and critical investment in infrastructure to support the growing needs of the Sunshine Coast community.”
The draft South East Queensland Regional Plan, released earlier this month, identifies the site as a Potential Future Growth Area.
“The suitability of Halls Creek for urban development has been under investigation for some time and is subject to approval under the EPBC Act,” the draft plan says.
“Another consideration for Halls Creek is the timing for delivery of the Beerwah East MDA (Major Development Area).
“Following completion of these investigations and assessments, a determination will be made about which parts of Halls Creek are suitable or appropriate to accommodate urban purposes in the future.”
The draft plan says the Sunshine Coast will need an extra 80,600 homes by 2046 to accommodate a predicted population increase of 206,400 people.
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