A proposal to build a four-storey, 40-unit project via the controversial State Facilitated Development pathway has been officially revoked.
Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie, who is also the Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning, yesterday revoked the State Facilitated Development declaration for the proposal at the intersection of Poinciana Avenue and Sidoni Street, Tewantin.
The decision followed significant opposition from locals, who criticised the development’s height, its potential impact on local character and the possible traffic congestion it would create. There were also concerns about the lack of alignment with provisions in the Noosa planning scheme.
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Mr Bleijie said the views of residents and local planning schemes shouldn’t be ignored on development decisions in their own community, and his government was aiming to reset the planning partnership with local councils.
“We’ve been working with council to try to resolve some of the issues but it’s clear that’s not possible with this development,” he said.
“Fast-tracking housing approvals shouldn’t come at the expense of council and community buy-in and consultation.
“The Crisafulli Government has already approved four State Facilitated Developments, totalling more than 1000 new homes, in Toowoomba, Wakerley, Woolloongabba and Indooroopilly as part of our reset planning partnership.”
For the Tewantin project to progress, the development would need to meet the requirements set under council’s planning scheme, including the preferences around heights.
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Noosa mayor Frank Wilkie welcomed the government’s decision.
“I thank the deputy premier for following through on this pre-election commitment to responsible planning by ensuring SFD projects comply with the Noosa Plan,” Cr Wilkie said.
“In this case, the action has prevented an over-height, over-scale development with insufficient car parking and no guarantee of any genuinely affordable housing from being imposed upon our community.”
