A review of the Sunshine Coast Airport draft development scheme by ratepayer groups has questioned the economic benefit to the community and pinpointed traffic as a major issue.
The review, compiled by OSCAR, the umbrella organisation of ratepayer and community groups on the Sunshine Coast, suggests the scale of development in the airport Priority Development Area (PDA) be reduced until David Low Way is double lanes from the airport through to Marcoola.
The review also queries building heights and the adequacy of drainage for proposed development.
The proposed development scheme, which is open for public comment until Thursday, lists an overnight hotel of up to 10 storeys, tourist accommodation, a childcare centre, service station and retail and commercial space among suitable uses for the airport PDA.
Economic Development Queensland, which prepared the scheme, and Sunshine Coast Airport, the private company which operates the airport, say development of the airport land will support economic development and local growth.
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Brian Anker, of Development Watch, writes in the community review of the scheme that no economic assessment has been provided to the community to back up promises of economic benefits from the development of airport land.
“The economic impacts (positive or negative) should be understood at the outset of such a large development, and the neighbouring communities should be able to assess the impacts in an open and transparent manner,” Mr Anker says.
He writes that local assets such as Marcoola Village need to be protected and “major retail and commercial are better located elsewhere including the Maroochydore CBD”.
“The site is first and foremost an airport. It should not become another major regional retail hub or industrial estate,” he says.
An EDQ spokesperson said the airport PDA had been declared to “support the growth and expansion of the Sunshine Coast Airport as a significant domestic and international gateway to the region”.
Sunshine Coast Airport chief executive officer Chris Mills was not available to directly address the review but in a previous interview indicated that development would support the local community.
Traffic engineer Martin Peelgrane writes in the community review that the airport development could “adversely impact” David Low Way in the North Shore area.
Mr Peelgrane, a former Mudjimba Residents Association president, writes that the “scale of land uses” in the proposed airport development scheme “should be reduced or delayed until DLW is duplicated from Airport Drive to at least Petrie Avenue”.
Professor Ian Lowe writes that given the likelihood of a category two or three cyclone and storm surge hitting the area in the future, it would be “irresponsible” to proceed with development at the airport until no risk to life or property was guaranteed.
EDQ says various modelling and studies have been taken into account in the declaration of the airport PDA and formulation of the proposed development scheme.
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“In preparing the proposed development scheme EDQ has engaged with state agencies and Sunshine Coast Council, and the proposed scheme has been informed by a number of technical studies including traffic, economic and hydrological impacts,” an EDQ spokesperson said.
The OSCAR-compiled review suggests there is a community expectation that development in the North Shore area will be low-rise.
EDQ says planning will take into account view corridors and the impact of building heights on nearby communities, and that buildings must adhere to height limits set by the Civil Aviation Safety Authority so as to not obstruct or impair airspace.
A near-miss with a commercial building during an emergency landing at Bankstown Airport has been used by Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association Australia chief executive Benjamin Morgan to highlight issues with non-aviation development at airports.
Mr Morgan says aviation is being pushed out of airports for the sake of profits for private operators through commercial development, but Mr Millls said the proposed development scheme would still allow for the growth of aviation on the Sunshine Coast.
EDQ and the Sunshine Coast Council have encouraged people to have their say on the proposed development scheme.
For information or to make a submission, go to the EDQ website.
