A hinterland tourist park has been given the green light to boost its accommodation offering and add an eatery and wedding venue.
Kookaburra Park at Cambroon can now expand to include 42 camping sites, three cabins, a cafe and a function facility at its 30ha property.
Sunshine Coast Council approved the development application on September 8, with a series of conditions governing how the function facility can operate.
The Barn, which was proposed as a wedding venue catering for up to 150 people, will be limited to one function per week and can operate between 10am and 10pm.
Live or amplified music associated with the approved use is permitted only within the enclosed function facility and between noon and 9pm, according to council’s statement of reasons.
The Barn must also be fully enclosed, including with features such as bi-fold doors and a sealed roof structure, to minimise noise.
When a function is scheduled, the tourist park must close to the general public, with access limited to function attendees.
An Operational Management Plan and Noise Complaints Management Procedure will also be required, while service vehicle movements will be restricted to 7am to 6pm from Monday to Saturday and prohibited on Sundays and public holidays.
The approval follows plans lodged last year by Kookaburra Park Property Pty Ltd, directed by owners Adam and Emma Dickson, to formalise and expand the long-running tourist park at 2951 Maleny Kenilworth Road, about 8.5km south-west of Kenilworth.
The couple previously told Sunshine Coast News they wanted to restore the former Cambroon Caravan Park while broadening what it offered.
“This is what we’ve been working towards. We wanted to create our own favourite place that would also become our guests’ favourite place,” Ms Dickson said when the application was lodged.
“When we started hosting the occasional wedding, the interest was enormous. We always knew we wanted to apply to become a function facility and host weddings.”
The expansion also retains a cafe proposed for the existing reception building, which the owners previously said would provide a gathering place for Cambroon and surrounding communities.
The approved plans show the accommodation will include the existing Jungle House and two proposed cabins – a family cabin and an A-frame cabin – alongside the camping sites.
Council received two properly made submissions during the public notification period, which ran from April 16 to May 8.
Issues raised included potential noise, light and traffic impacts on surrounding properties, effects on rural character, road safety and concerns about monitoring and enforcing conditions for weddings.
Council’s assessment found the amended proposal was capable of complying with the planning scheme and that its acoustic impacts would not be significant provided the relevant noise criteria and conditions were met.
The development will also require significant changes to its access from Maleny Kenilworth Road.
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The Department of Transport and Main Roads has required a channelised right-turn treatment and rural property access, sealed to the property boundary, before the expanded use begins.
The existing road access must also be removed and the surrounding road reserve reinstated.
SCN has contacted Kookaburra Park for further comments relating to council’s approval conditions.
