A controversial farm-stay tourist park proposed for the hinterland is set to go before Sunshine Coast Council next week.
Council officers are recommending the development be approved despite widespread community opposition and more than 100 public submissions to the original application.
The application for a tourist park at 29 Roberts Street, Glass House Mountains, was first reported by Sunshine Coast News in 2023, when it was promoted as a tourism venture offering visitors “authentic farm experiences” in a rural setting.
Following extensive feedback from nearby residents, the applicant substantially amended the plans to reduce the scale and intensity of the development.
The current proposal, outlined in the agenda for the May 21 Ordinary meeting, includes eight self-contained accommodation cabins – four two-bedroom and four one-bedroom – along with 12 caravan and camping sites.
A central 300sqm visitor centre would include a reception, camp kitchen and cafe, however the cafe would only be accessible to overnight guests and not the general public.
The development would cater for a maximum of 96 guests at any one time, while the existing dwelling on the property would be retained for on-site managers.
Plans also include horse paddocks for clydesdales, market gardens and small crop areas as part of the proposed “farm-stay” tourism experience.
According to the meeting agenda, council officers have recommended approval with conditions, concluding the development is of an “appropriate nature, scale and intensity” for the rural site and substantially complies with the Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme 2014.
The officer’s report states a tourist park is considered a “potentially consistent” use within the Rural Zone under the planning scheme.
Do you have an opinion to share? Submit a Letter to the Editor at Sunshine Coast News via news@sunshinecoastnews.com.au. You must include your name and suburb.
The application received 117 submissions during public notification, including 115 properly made submissions, with all but one objecting to the development.
Residents raised concerns about increased traffic, noise, impacts on wildlife and the loss of the area’s “peaceful rural amenity”, as well as potential impacts on the Northern Inter-Urban Break.
Traffic impacts were among the most significant concerns, particularly relating to Roberts Street, Youngs Road and the single-lane bridge on Bruce Parade.
In response, the applicant removed several components of the original proposal, including a planned function facility, public food and drink outlet, ancillary timber mill and viewing platform over the site’s dam.
The driveway access was also relocated further west to move traffic further away from homes on Youngs Road.
On-site parking was reduced from 65 spaces to 27 as part of the revised plans.
Council’s assessment report states the proposed cabins would be set back at least 120 metres from the nearest residential property, while the central visitor centre would sit about 200 metres away.
Landscape buffers between three and 10 metres are also proposed along property boundaries adjoining neighbouring homes.
Council engineers concluded the surrounding road network and existing single-lane bridge could accommodate the projected traffic volumes, subject to upgrades including road widening and sealing works.
