A set of approved units designed to help “soften the housing crisis” in a hinterland town could be expanded before construction even begins.
An application has been lodged with Noosa Council to amend plans for a development earmarked for a main road in the heart of Cooroy.
In January 2022 approval was granted to the then-owner to build 11 units at 54 Elm Street and the adjoining lot at 5 Pearl Street.
However, the site was recently purchased by Cooroy Villas Pty Ltd, which now seeks to make minor design changes to the development.
RG Strategic has prepared the development application on behalf of its clients, with the changes to include an additional unit built, plus changes to access roads.
“The change includes (one) additional dwelling going from 11 dwellings to 12 dwellings, (and) realigning the internal access road for a more efficient internal flow,” the planning report stated.
“The design continues to deliver a modern expression of the Cooroy old world vernacular and importantly, small dwellings will be delivered to help soften the housing crisis currently faced in Cooroy.”
According to the report, the development would now have 10 two-bedroom dwellings and two three-bedroom dwellings encompassing 92sqm and 106sqm respectively.
The report also outlined a new stormwater design incorporating water harvesting and reuse, plus changes to some of the original conditions to reflect the new application.
It outlined that while one extra unit would not impact the intended use of the site, it would maximise its density “by providing small dwellings to help alleviate the current housing crisis”.
“The multiple dwelling use remains unchanged. No new land is applied over as part of this change application,” it stated.
“The key development parameters such as site cover and GFA, reflecting bulk and scale are similar to that approved and continue to comply with the Planning Scheme.
“One additional unit increases the density onsite complying with the intent of the Planning Scheme to maximise density on sites by providing small dwellings to help alleviate the current housing crisis.”
Over recent years Cooroy has become popular for proposed multiple dwelling developments, with the most recent approval in February 2023 for 10 townhouses at 9 Kauri Street, which are currently under construction.
Noosa Council did however refuse an application for a group of eco cottages, with the decision currently being appealed in the Planning and Environment court.
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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