An appeal has been lodged against the Sunshine Coast Council’s refusal of a proposed new childcare centre.
Bridgeman Enterprises has applied to the Planning and Environment Court seeking to overturn the council’s decision not to approve its proposed childcare centre at Golden Beach.
The company had sought council approval to build a double-storey childcare centre catering for up to 108 children on a site at 36-38 Landsborough Parade.
The site, currently occupied by cafe and pathology clinic, is already approved for a mixed-use development of 15 units and up to four commercial tenancies.
In late October, the council refused the childcare centre for various reasons, including that it was not small scale; did not reflect the existing setting; was not of a high design standard; did not ensure there was no loss of amenity for surrounding residential uses, particularly through noise; and did not have sufficient parking or landscaping.
Bridgeman Enterprises, as per its notice of appeal, highlights that the childcare centre would be two storeys with a site coverage of 62.8 per cent and the mixed-use development would be four storeys with a site coverage of 87 per cent.
It points out that there are three 11-storey buildings and two 10-storey buildings nearby, and a commercial strip built to the boundary.
The notice says the proposed development, particularly in the context of the existing approval, is “small scale in nature” and consistent with the coastal urban character of Golden Beach and Pelican Waters.
It says the proposed childcare centre would support the role and function of the Golden Beach Local Centre as an activity centre, providing convenient services to local residents and visitors.
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The childcare centre’s design would be “sympathetic” to the character of area, using lightweight materials and an understated colour scheme, and would not mean a loss of amenity to the residents through noise.
Bridgeman Enterprises development manager Chris Ferraro told Sunshine Coast News the company had reconsidered the original mixed-used approval for commercial and feasibility reasons.
Mr Ferraro said a childcare centre was an appropriate fit for the area.
“Golden Beach and Pelican Waters is a changing demographic,” he said.
“Young people and young families are moving to the area because it offers and affordable beach lifestyle and childcare is an integral use for the area.”
He said Green Leaves had a waiting list at its Pelican Waters childcare centre and was ready to operate the proposed Golden Beach centre.
Mr Ferraro said it was “senseless” that the council was spending potentially hundreds of thousands of ratepayer dollars fighting a code accessible application.
The Sunshine Coast Council does not comment on matters before the court.
