New legislation has given hope that local councils will have a greater say about controversial state-facilitated developments.
Noosa mayor Frank Wilkie has revealed that his council has been contacted by the Deputy Premier and the state planning department to discuss a more collaborative approach to major development proposals.
It comes after the outgoing Labor government made the last-minute decision to progress two state-facilitated development projects in Noosa to the next stage of the approvals process.
Cr Wilkie said the newly elected LNP state government had signalled an intention to work more cooperatively around the issue.
“This collaborative approach is a positive early sign regarding the two proposed State Facilitated Development (SFD) projects in Noosa,” he said.
“It gives us some confidence that the two SFD housing projects in Tewantin and Noosa Junction will now involve stronger engagement with council’s planning staff, who will seek for the Noosa Plan 2020 and community sentiment to be respected.
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“With more detail to work out, we are confident that these SFD housing projects in Noosa will be of a size and scale appropriate for our shire.”
Under the SFD process, the state can approve developments that bypass a local council’s planning schemes, without appeal rights.
Last week, the new state government passed legislation equipping the planning minister with new powers to amend or repeal existing SFD applications.
Member for Noosa Sandy Bolton welcomed the move, saying she had opposed the original Bill that facilitated the SFD pathway in April.
“This is very welcomed by our community to address the inappropriate SFD process that bypasses local government planning schemes and will ensure that we do not see fears around ‘high rises’ raised during the election campaign become a reality,” she said.
“With Noosa Council in support of these amendments, and the state planning department working with them closely on any SFD applications or future proposals, I feel confident that the concerns of our community will now be addressed, and that Noosa can rest easy knowing that we have been heard and action has resulted.”
