Sunshine Coast Council has voted to approve Stockland’s application to turn 104 hectares of land into about 450 homes at Twin Waters West.
The matter was voted on in Thursday’s ordinary meeting of council after a length debate. The motion to approve the application, subject to 100 conditions, was passed six votes to four.
Voting in favour were Deputy Mayor Rick Baberowski, Terry Landsberg, Christian Dickson, Peter Cox, Ted Hungerford and Jason O’Pray. Voting against it were Joe Natoli, Winston Johnston, David Law and Maria Suarez.
Related story: Development recommended for approval as vote looms
Cr O’Pray, who is the divisional councillor for the area, in his opening remarks on the debate said community attitudes towards the application had changed since Stockland’s initial proposal to develop the site with about 1200 dwellings in 2008.
“Last time the courts refused it (in 2022) they became very, very clear of the expectations,” he said. “What I see now is an applicant kind of coming to council with their tail between their legs. It’s obviously taken everything from council, the courts, the community on board,” he said.
“(They are) offering up an application that I think, in the eyes of most of the residents, actually is equal to or better than the Twin Waters estate that’s there today.”
He said he had conducted extensive research and “knocked on almost 1000 doors” seeking residents’ feedback, and he believed attitudes towards the proposal had changed.
“I’ve seen an enormous change in both the applicant’s approach to this site and, even more, an enormous change in the community sentiments,” he said.
Want more free local news? Follow Sunshine Coast News on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.
Cr Suarez, whose division takes in much of the area surrounding the site, said she was against any development on a floodplain.
“Development on floodplains is something that I’ve always been opposed to,” she said.
“My concern with this application is that, while a lot of changes have been made in the way forward to address a number of issues, it can set a precedent for other areas across the Coast.”
Stockland development director Adrian Allen commended the outcome.
“We welcome the decision by the Sunshine Coast Council, and we look forward to working with all stakeholders on the next steps,” he said.
Twin Waters West and Surrounds Inc president Kathryn Hyman said she was disappointed with the decision.
“We’d like to thank councillors Suarez, Law, Natoli and Johnston for their sound eye and good judgement, their intelligence and their courage in standing by their convictions,” she said.
“We are extraordinarily dissatisfied with the lack of leadership from our divisional councillor (Jason) O’Pray, who had evidence before him that there were sound grounds to refuse it.
“Our divisional councillor has convinced other colleagues to support him in this decision. This is now their legacy.
“Ratepayers have now essentially agreed ‘to move the motorway to make way for Stockland’s development’.
“Given the state interests, many agree the Minister is duty bound to call this in.
“Of submissions, 89 per cent of local residents made meaningful and sound submissions of objection.
“Overwhelmingly the developer’s submissions of support were proformas and were not sound and were not local.
“The public interest and scientific methodology had been abandoned for corporate incompetence and inherent bias. And it’s a particularly sad day for our wildlife.”
Ms Hyman flagged the possibility of another legal challenge.
“Using the previous precedence, a philanthropist willing to fund the legal costs for an appeal would likely see an another win for the public interest and case law/communities everywhere,” she said.
Do you have an opinion to share? Submit a Letter to the Editor at Sunshine Coast News via news@sunshinecoastnews.com.au. You must include your name and suburb.
