A crane hire company has lodged a court appeal after its application to establish a depot near the Sunshine Motorway was rejected.
AMAC Cranes has appealed to the Planning and Environment Court after Sunshine Coast Council refused its plans for a six-hectare site at 252 Yandina Coolum Road, Coolum Beach.
The application was initially submitted in February 2025 seeking permission to store a maximum of six cranes and two transport trucks in two sheds covering 791sqm on the site.
That followed a show cause notice being issued by the council in July 2024, followed by an enforcement notice in September 2024, for alleged breaches of the Planning Act.
The application underwent public notification from September 11 to October 2, with five submissions made, each opposing the proposal.
The appeal, submitted on February 23 by Brisbane-based MacDonnells Law on behalf of AMAC Property Group Pty Ltd, comes after the council issued its decision notice on January 29.
The refusal states the proposal is inconsistent with its rural zoning, involves significant floodplain works, would compromise valuable agricultural land and includes visually obtrusive buildings that can be seen from the mapped scenic routes of Yandina Coolum Road and the Sunshine Motorway.
“The proposed development, if approved, will significantly undermine the deliberate and clear planning strategy for the land under the planning scheme,” the notice states.
But the appeal argues the land – which is directly west of Yandina Coolum Road and the Sunshine Motorway – has little agricultural value.
“The land has limited capacity to be used for traditional agricultural purposes typically preferred or identified within the Rural zone,” it says.
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“It is fragmented and constrained, has a comparatively small area relative to surrounding Rural-zoned parcels and features an irregular configuration.”
The appeal notes the site could also be affected by the Department of Transport and Main Roads’ plan to duplicate Yandina Coolum Road, which would result in the resumption of land on the western boundary.
“The site is bounded on its eastern and northern boundaries by road reserve, and is planned to be bounded on its western boundary by road reserve in light of the road duplication,” it states.
The appeal argues allowing the transport depot would benefit the construction industry.
“The proposed development will provide a supporting role in aiding local and regional construction growth,” it says.
The appeal says the proposal would not involve “significant intrusion” into the floodplain, and that the two proposed sheds would include screening that would shield them from the adjacent main roads. It also notes two nearby properties that are zoned Rural have approval for a transport depot and a service station with car wash.
“There is a planning, community and economic need for the proposed development,” it concludes.
The council’s decision notice notes the proposed development is located within the Blue Heart area.
“It has not been demonstrated that the development is in the interests of the community and that there is no alternative suitable site available for the use,” it says.
The aerial imagery in this story is from Australian location intelligence company Nearmap. The company provides government organisations, architectural, construction and engineering firms, and other companies, with easy, instant access to high-resolution aerial imagery, city-scale 3D content, artificial intelligence data sets, and geospatial tools to assist with urban planning, monitoring and development projects in Australia, New Zealand and North America.
