The applicant behind a proposal to turn a disused bowls club into a development with almost 200 units says it would help address an under-supply of accommodation on the Sunshine Coast by delivering “much-needed and well-designed housing options”.
John Goulter, who has owned the North Shore Tavern and former Pacific Paradise Bowls Club site since the mid-1990s, is behind the plan to build three residential apartment buildings totalling 127 units, plus 65 short-term accommodation units and a food and drink outlet, on the 12,775sqm block.
Mr Goulter told Sunshine Coast News that, if approved by council, the proposal for the prominent site on David Low Way would add to the mix of housing options available in the region.
“The current housing supply situation on the Sunshine Coast is the worst it has been in the 44 years I have been building houses, townhouses, retirement villages and apartments here,” he said.
The development application, which was submitted to Sunshine Coast Council on September 5, is for a material change of use for the site, which is at 698-706 David Low Way and 11-13 Menzies Drive, Pacific Paradise.
A town planning report by Place Design Group, prepared for Padstow Holdings Pty Ltd and Mr Goulter’s Sherringham Holdings Pty Ltd, says the proposed development designed by KP Architects would be done in two stages.
Stage 1 would involve the delivery of the short-term accommodation and 160sqm food and drink outlet, with Stage 2 being construction of the residential apartments.
The short-term accommodation building would be six storeys high, while the three residential apartment buildings would be three, five and six storeys high, and arranged around a communal pool, gym and residents’ lounge.
Mr Goulter has had a stake in the site for about three decades. He is the co-director of the tavern, which will be maintained under the proposed development.
“My company purchased the formerly vacant Pacific Paradise caravan park in the mid-1990s. That land now makes up the majority of the proposed development site,” he said.
“Approximately half of that land was sold to the Pacific Paradise Bowls Club to allow them to build an additional green and a new, larger clubhouse.
“The North Shore Tavern was built and opened in 2009 on the balance of land.
“The bowls club was purchased at auction in the late-2010s when it was forced to close after pressure from their bank.”
The town planning report says the bowls club was allowed to use the facilities rent-free for more than two years in an attempt to keep it operating, but it ultimately amalgamated with the Alexandra Headland Bowls Club.
“In the time since the club has closed, the premises has been advertised for lease but an alternative tenant/use has not been found and the greens and club remain vacant,” the report says.
Mr Goulter said the proposal would help transform the Pacific Paradise community.
“We see it as a catalyst for a more vibrant North Shore town centre, catering to the increase in airport traffic, retirement villages in both Twin Waters and North Shore, and future development around the airport precinct and potentially Twin Waters,” he said.
“The development team have paid particular attention to engaging with all local community groups to ensure that local residents are familiar with the development.
“Additionally, they have met with the Sunshine Coast Council planners during the design phase to ensure that the proposed development closely aligns with all future planning requirements.”
The proposed buildings would exceed the current 12m height limits on the site, with the short-term accommodation building reaching 19.75m and the tallest of the residential buildings reaching 18.8m.
The town planning report says the additional building height would be appropriate given the “context of the site”.
“Its accessibility to key transport corridors, public transport, employment opportunities and essential services allows for an uplift in height within the context providing an appropriate land use outcome that responds to the needs of the community integrating into the wider centre and the amenity on offer,” it says.
The application is subject to impact assessment.
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