Plans to expand a major resort within a known koala habitat will be revived, with the developer set appeal its rejection in court.
The RACV Noosa Resort submitted a development application in June 2022 seeking an extension to the existing resort that would include 15 self-contained accommodation units at 94 and 142 Noosa Drive, Noosa Heads.
It also proposed a new lagoon pool within the existing resort complex, an additional 18 carparks and alterations to the existing access.
However, Noosa Council refused the application at its Ordinary Meeting on November 16, 2023, labelling the development as “an unacceptable loss of vegetation”.
The proposal also outlined it would require the removal of 71 trees to build the development, which included 27 koala tress, with a further 11 trees were labelled as “TBC”.
The Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV) will now fight the refusal in the Planning and Environment Court after submitting a Notice to Appeal on December 15, 2023.
In a statement, RACV Noosa Resort manager Darren McClenaghan said the development’s intention was to “create an eco-precinct in an area of land, mostly zoned as tourist accommodation, within the resort”.
“The proposal was to leave 80 per cent of the bushland intact, with a minimal development footprint of 20 per cent achieved by using elevated buildings and walkways to minimise impact, enhance the current biodiversity and natural vegetation, and allow for koala movement through the site,” he said.
“Over several years, advice was obtained from a koala expert, ecologist, arborist consultant, bushfire expert, town planning expert and engineers to ensure the development would not cause significant environmental harm and will be sustainable in the long term, particularly with respect to maintaining koala habitat.”
Mr McClenaghan said the State Assessment Referral Agency (SARA), which was the lead agency for the protection of koala habitat, supported the proposal, subject to an environmental covenant to protect the koala habitat, which was “welcomed by RACV”.
“The Queensland Koala Crusaders also visited the site to better understand the proposal and subsequently lodged a submission in support,” Mr McClenaghan said.
“The project would provide significant community benefits in the short and long term through construction and employment.
“We look forward to receiving the court’s decision in this matter.”
In a report submitted at the Noosa Council General Committee Meeting on January 15, development assessment manager Patrick Murphy outlined that the council “agree to defend the appeal”.
“As a result of council’s decision to refuse the application, the applicant has now lodged an appeal to the Planning and Environment Court,” the report stated.
“The applicant seeks that the development be approved subject to reasonable and relevant conditions.
“The matter is in order for council to defend the appeal.”
The report detailed feedback from residents for and against the development, as well as a recommendation to the developer to address the “site’s constraints”.
“The proposed development would result in an unacceptable loss of vegetation in a locality which is ecologically important and environmentally sensitive and serves as an important ecological linkage, and the proposed development is considered an overdevelopment of the land at the expense of the natural values of the land,” it stated.
“One hundred and nineteen letters/emails of objection were received from residents raising concerns with the proposed development in respect to koala habitat, over-supply of short-term accommodation, impact on Weyba Creek, cultural significance and inconsistency with the Noosa Plan 2020.
“Six letters/emails of support were received from residents in support of the application based on residential amenity, managed impact on koala habitat, improvement on current situation and community benefits.
“The issues raised in the reasons of refusal given by officers impact the site layout and the number of cabins able to be achieved on site and to satisfactorily address the site’s constraints the applicant will likely need to change their application and reduce the number of cabins proposed.”
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.
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