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8 February 2023
Happy Faces!
These Cooroy State School preppies are excited for their first year of school. See more back to school photos on page 20.
Credit: Cooroy State School
No go for Pomona unit development
BY ALEX PURCELL
A PROPOSED residential development for Pomona has failed to get the green light to proceed. The application for 20 units at 11C Church Street was refused by Noosa Council under delegation in late December last year. Council's Development Assessment Acting Manager Patrick Murphy said the application was refused because the development didn't adequately demonstrate it could comply with planning scheme requirements. "The applicant sought approval to construct 20 dwelling units; however the applicant had not satisfactorily demonstrated that the development could comply with requirements – in-
cluding water quality and drainage, flood-prone land, earthworks, and protection of the riparian buffer," he said. For a group of Pomona residents, the refusal is a small win. The Pomona Community Advocacy and Action (PCAA) group have been opposed to the development since discovering the development wasn't impact-assessable because the land is zoned medium density under the Noosa Plan 2020 and multiple dwellings are a consistent use for the zone. PCAA spokesperson Nick Cooke said being a code-assessable application, it was not open to community consultation and council did not need to regard community opinion,
only inconsistent uses with the town plan. "Thus a thorough submission identifying the specific contraventions of the town plan was required." Nick said after months of research, and addressing community issues raised at their public forum in April last year, the group lodged an 11-page submission with council. "The submission involved reviewing all of the plans and reports submitted by the developer and assessing them against the town plan, including the updated plans submitted in response to council's information request." Nick said while this development application has been rejected, it may not stop the developer from submitting revised plans
for fewer units – something one local real estate agent hopes will happen. Pomona real estate agent, Brian George from George Real Estate, said he is disappointed the development was refused and hopes there will be a compromise so it can go ahead. “My belief is this development will benefit the community because it will provide affordable housing for people. “We’re talking elderly, professionals, and singles, who can’t afford to buy a house. “Then there’s the rental opportunities for those who can’t afford to rent here – all the workers that we’re sorely lacking. “There are all sorts of beneficial aspects. I hope
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council will come to some sort of compromise and it will go ahead,” Brian said. Nick said while there is a need for affordable housing, it must be built on appropriate sites. “This lot is not only subject to flood, landslide, bushfire and koala overlays, it also has extensive federal, state and local biodiversity significance, including a local biodiversity, waterways and wetlands overlay. “Also this development did not meet the definition of affordable housing, as under the planning scheme it must cost no more than 30 per cent of the gross income of low to moderate earners. “Future applications will have to show more regard for these issues, including
the impacts on the biodiversity of the lot, which will hopefully ward off developers from attempting to submit inappropriate plans for the lot." Nick said while he is pleased with the outcome, he is concerned council's refusal did not go far enough in identifying all the contraventions of the town plan. “I have since made a deputation to council at the 16 January general meeting to raise these concerns and seek that the council adequately apply the town plan to any future applications.” Council said it is unknown at this stage whether the applicant will appeal the decision. The applicant was contacted by the Cooroy Rag but declined to comment.
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Cooroy Rag, 8 February 2023 - Page
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