The state government could decide on whether to approve plans for a 150-hectare festival site on the Sunshine Coast, after a “call-in notice” for the project was proposed.
The application to develop the land at Coochin Creek into Australia’s largest outdoor event site was submitted to Sunshine Coast Council in June by the Comiskey Group.
But the proposed call-in notice by Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie, dated May 16, could see the state government assess and decide on the application instead of the council.
It is the second such proposed call-in of planned Comiskey Group projects at Coochin Creek, after a similar notice was given last month regarding a potential 150-site tourist park on 43 hectares at the end of Roys Road, to the east of the festival site.
Known as Coochin Fields, the festival site – located about 6km east of the Bruce Highway on Roys Road – would be able to host six events annually with a maximum of 35,000 patrons per day. It is currently operating as turf and strawberry farms.
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The application to develop the festival site has also been the subject of a Planning and Environment Court case between the Comiskeys’ Coochin Creek Property Pty Ltd and the council, which began in July and was discontinued last month.
Sunshine Coast News understands that appeal was over how the development application was categorised and how that would affect the fees payable to the council.
An initial application to develop the site was submitted in October 2023 but was withdrawn last May, before the current application was submitted the next month.
The proposed call-in notice by Mr Bleijie, who is also the Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning, states that the minister can only call in an application if it’s in the state interest.
“I am of the view that the proposal represents a major tourism and economic opportunity, however there are significant social and environmental matters related to the proposal that require consideration,” it says.
“I am therefore deciding to propose to call in the application to assess and decide the application under the call-in provisions in the Planning Act.”
The notice states the council is concerned at the potential to adversely impact rural and scenic landscapes, the Pumicestone Passage and the Moreton Bay-Sunshine Coast Northern Inter Urban Break.
“The council is also of the view that the proposal is of a scale and intensity that has the potential to adversely impact on ecologically important areas and the amenity of adjacent sensitive environments, through noise, light, waste and water quality impacts,” it says.
It also cites potential bushfire risks and traffic problems.
“The subject site is accessed via a local road, which is a no through road, and council has identified that the proposal may have impacts upon the existing transport network and consideration of access, design features, safety requirements, current and future operating conditions, and maintenance requirements,” it says.
But the notice goes on to consider the potential upsides of the project.
“The applicant submits that the cessation of agricultural activities on the site would have a positive impact on the natural values of the site, improving water quality conditions in adjoining wetlands and in the broader Pumicestone Passage,” it says.
It also considers the possible economic benefits.
“The applicant has identified that the proposal could become a significant tourism and economic driver for the Sunshine Coast, that would generate substantial visitation impacts for the Sunshine Coast region, including up to 69,500 visitors per year, 243,100 visitor nights per year, 124,100 bed nights in commercial accommodation and $95.1 million in visitor expenditure,” the notice states.
“The applicant asserts that the combined impact for the development is anticipated to be a total of $71.3 million in gross regional product terms and a total of 682 jobs, on a full-time equivalent basis for the Sunshine Coast economy.”
The family-owned Comiskey Group is known for the Eatons Hill, Sandstone Point and Dakabin hotels, as well as Sunshine Coast venues The Doonan and Imperial Hotel at Eumundi.
It is also behind the planned three-level Aura Hotel, which could be completed by 2026 and include a live band room that can accommodate 2500 people.
If the application is called in, the minister’s decision cannot be appealed in the Planning and Environment Court.
Written representations can be made about the proposal to call in the application by June 16.
