The Sunshine Coast Council has approved a temporary local planning instrument allowing height and carparking relaxations for luxury hotel developments for the next two years.
After an hour-and-a-half of questions and discussion, councillors voted seven to four to approve the TLPI, which is part of an incentive package designed to draw top-of-the-range brand hotels to the region.
Other elements of the incentive package, including waivers and discounts on fees and infrastructure charges, and the dedication of a planning team member to guide applications, had already been approved at the council’s August ordinary meeting.
Councillors voted to put the TLPI out for public consultation at the same meeting.
The TLPI will allow the developers of luxury hotels to build three to seven metres higher than the planning scheme would otherwise allow, plus add rooftop bars and include fewer parking spaces than would usually be required. The TLPI will only apply to specific development sites.
More than 1000 responses were received during the consultation period, with 48 per cent in favour of the TLPI, 50 per cent against and 2 per cent non-committal. The feedback was also divided by age with more over-60s in support and more of those aged 34 and under against.
Mayor Rosanna Natoli, who moved the TLPI motion, reiterated information already provided to councillors that the Sunshine Coast had a shortfall of 2000 hotel rooms.
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Division 7 councillor Ted Hungerford said he would not support it because members of the community had given him a clear message that they did not want increased height and density.
“I made a commitment that I was not going to support that view (to increase height and density) and I’m going to keep it today,” he said.
Division 8 councillor Taylor Bunnag said the council had already provided encouragement to luxury hotel developments with incentives.
“By not supporting the development, am I stopping any form of hotel development coming to the region? And the answer is no,” he said.
Division 2 councillor Terry Landsberg, speaking in favour of the TLPI, said “if we don’t move fast, it will have huge ramifications for the Sunshine Coast, and we’ll not continue to grow and meet the targets of the SEQ Regional Plan”.
Councillors Bunnag, Hungerford, David Law and Christian Dickson voted against the motion, which was supported by Mayor Natoli and councillors Landsberg, Joe Natoli, Winston Johnston, Tim Burns, Jenny Broderick and Maria Suarez.
A site at 1 Mari Street, Alexandra Headland, will not be included under the TLPI although it was in earlier mapping.
