Public notification is now underway for a proposed golf driving range on land that was formerly a pick-your-own strawberry farm.
The facility, which would also include a practice putting green and short-game area, is proposed for about 5.9 hectares of a total 19.7-hectare site at Laxton Road, Palmview.
The initial plans were lodged in April with Sunshine Coast Council, which requested further information on the proposal the following month.
Last month town planners Innovation Planning Solutions, on behalf of applicant All Things Golf Pty Ltd, submitted a response to the information request, outlining further details about the proposal.
The response addresses concerns about the design of the driving range, possible flood impacts and road network capacity.
“The proposed driving range bays have been amended in design to now reflect slab on ground construction, with the bay roof cover having a maximum height of 4.078 metres,” it said.
“No netting is proposed to facilitate the proposal. The driving range design is of a significant length, width (approximately 3 to 4 fairways wide) and orientation that there is a low potential for golf balls deviating from the grassed range.
“Ball-tracking systems will be installed in each proposed bay and will sound alarms and display a series of warnings should users hit balls erratically or deliberately attempt to hit balls out of the range.”
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The response says the lack of netting would also prevent entanglement of native fauna.
It says earthworks are proposed to provide flood immunity to the driving range facilities and bays.
“Flooding impacts by the development are mitigated by incorporating increased flood storage over the driving range,” it says.
The response also says a road-widening plan has been prepared for Laxton Road.
The range would include more than 30 driving bays and measure up to 230m long and 145m wide.
The proposal includes provision for 40 car parking spaces, including one for people with a disability.
The farm, known as Strawberry Fields, was sold in 2021 by its owners Maurie and Von Carmichael, who ran it for about 40 years. Property records show it sold for $3.75 million.
Public submissions can be made here until March 31.
