submission bowls club · MCU13/0092

A Submission in Objection to the Proposed Commercial Development to the Open Space Recreation zoned area of Peregian Beach.
To: The Chief Executive Officer
Sunshine Coast Council
Locked Bag 72
Sunshine Coast Mail Centre, Q’ld. 4573.
Submitted by Margaret May Wilkie  (6 pages)
2/5 Pitta Street, Peregian Beach. 4573 on 27th August 2013.

File Number MCU 13/0092
Name of Applicant: Multispan Australia Pty Ltd.
Application Details
Proposal: Development Permit for Material Change Of Use of Premises ( Entertainment  and Dining) Type 1 Food and beverages, Commercial Type 1 Office and Retail business, Type 2 Shop and Salon.
Street Address: 5-7 Rufous St; Peregian Beach.Q’ld 4573
Real Property Description : Lot 94 SP 137431
I wish to object to the above proposed development for the following reasons:-
PLANNING –
Open Space Network
The Applicant’s proposed supermarket and shops appears to be in conflict with the intent for the Open Spaces Recreation Zone which “seeks to contribute to the desired lifestyle of residents by offering a variety of passive and active recreational experiences that are conducive to community interaction and wellbeing".
A Material Change of Use for Lot 94 is unsympathetic and inappropriate to the location in the confined and clearly defined recreational precinct and would be a detrimental disadvantage to community interaction and wellbeing.
Recreational facilities such as Tennis Courts, Veggie Village Community Gardens, Di Hirst Oval, Peregian Beach Community House all abut Lot 94. The well-established Peregian Beach Community  Kindergarten is also located here as well as the wet land area alongside the Community Gardens.

Lot 94 was never offered to the open market and therefore there were no applications made for its purchase for recreational purposes or otherwise. Attempts  to purchase for recreational uses have been made since it became known that the site was for sale which is conditional on permission being given for the proposed supermarket and shops. The sale price appears to be that for commercial land use not  for recreational land use.
REPRESENTATIONS: “Since 2010, no section of Peregian Beach Community has had access to subject site which is privately owned” is a false claim because the popular and frequently used  Beach Volley Ball Court operated  on the site for at least 18 months until  it was shut down by the present owners thus disadvantaging and depriving  the community of a popular recreational activity catering to the 18 to 35 age group plus high school students.

“Di Hirst Oval can be expanded South and South East” – a false claim as the National Park is South of the Oval; in the South East are the tennis courts, kindergarten, residences, hotel, Scanlon site, hardware store and further residences. West of the Oval is the National Park.

Di Hirst Oval is neither “under utelised” nor “under developed”, another false claim. Veggie Village Community Gardens have approval to expand their gardens westwards  encompassing  some of the Oval. The cricket pitch is used, dogs are exercised, children play, athletes and runners train, people use seating and tables. It may not have any “formal designations” but  is used as an open space for a variety of recreational  activities.
In March 2011 Council adopted the Sunshine Coast Open Space Strategy. The Peregian Beach profile describes the locality as being underprovided for recreation use. The Council’s own research would indicate that there is sufficient evidence to “justify the purchase of privately owned land at Peregian Beach for Public use”. A proposed supermarket  would not integrate with and would disadvantage the surrounding community recreational facilities.
There is no suitably zoned recreational land available in Peregian Beach for future development. Peregian Beach is bounded by the Pacific Ocean and the National Park.

Recreational facilities at Peregian Beach are used and enjoyed by people of all ages from Peregian Springs and Marcus Beach, both of which have few facilities. The  demand for recreational space is growing. A loss of Open Space Recreational zoned land would see this and other local communities disadvantaged now and in the future.

The Applicant’s Executive Summary( 9) concludes that the “narrow width of the site is not conducive to a range of recreational uses” is patently false . This site with its club house, 2 playing greens, an “activities house” and the beach volley ball courts did not find the site too narrow for these recreational uses. It is very surprising to find that the narrow width of the site is considered conducive for the proposed  supermarket , shops and 100 plus parking spaces.

Offers were made to the owners of Lot 94 to use it for recreational purposes on a lease back arrangement  but these were refused, disadvantaging the community.
The closure of the Peregian Beach swimming pool occurred in the 1960 or early 70’s when the population and Council were much smaller.
The Sunshine Coast  has a fast growing population and the need for recreational space is under pressure to cater for these needs. The Sunshine Coast Council in “Urban D”  Open Space Planning District in the Open Space Strategy has predicted a 60% growth in the 18 to 25 year age group in the next ten years.

ACCESS                                                                                                                                                                             The Council unanimously voted against the applicant’s proposal (March 2013) to use the Peregian Beach Community House car park (Lot 95) to provide pedestrian or vehicular traffic from David Low Way. Appropriation of publicly owned land for private commercial gain is unacceptable.
Any pedestrian access from David Low Way through the Council owned car park (Lot 95) would curtail the use of parking spaces for the patrons of the adjoining Peregian Beach Community House. This would become a “short cut” for shoppers to park there and walk through to the proposed supermarket. This would disadvantage the patrons of Peregian Beach Community House and have nuisance impact.

Pedestrian Access is available by the footpath in Woodland Dve to the Rufous St site from the bus stop on David Low Way, for residents on David Low Way and the patrons of the Community House,  rather than through any car park.
Applicant’s Attachment C regarding Access states “Easement over Lot 95 in favour of Lot 94 for vehicular and pedestrian access subject to the Council's approval would be in the long term interests of the local community”. The Consultant’s  Report  indicated that opposition to the proposed supermarket  was as high as 63% “ as presented to them on the day”.
It is unlikely that the local community would change its views about a proposed supermarket in its recreational precinct as well as losing public car parking spaces to a commercial enterprise. Publicly owned land cannot be appropriated for commercial gain.
Pedestrian links to Rufous St. site must be stated and shown by the Applicant so the plan can be evaluated in its entirety. Marquesas development, The Tavern, Scanlon (Essence) development and the Heron St. development did not have to identify (as claimed), any proposed pedestrian links as they clearly fronted David Low Way or Heron St.
A fence between Lot 94 and Lot 95 will ensure that there can be no gradual encroachment onto Lot 95. The site plan indicates that a service van bay is situated in what appears to be a designated road ready to be extended into Lot 95.
The applicant appears unwilling to comply with this fence requirement for spurious reasons. Publicly owned land cannot be appropriated for commercial gain.
ENGINEERING AND TRAFFIC ISSUES
The applicant’s plan indicates 100 car parking spaces but does not mention car parking for the anticipated 80+ employees, some of whom will require spaces for their cars.

Pedestrian/cyclists and users of the recreational facilities and Kindergarten, will be disadvantaged in having  to contend with delivery trucks, garbage trucks and all manner of service vans and private vehicles turning  into this narrow  site. This has nuisance/safety impact.

Existing car parking spaces in the locality for recreational users would be lost to the customers and employees of the supermarket/shops. This has nuisance impact and will be a disadvantage.
Access to and from the site has not been addressed satisfactorily. This presents safety issues.
Rufous St.is not of sufficient width and topography for any further land encroachment for road use.  The Western side of Rufous St. falls away sharply towards the Oval and the natural wet land alongside Veggie Village.The Eastern side encroachment of Rufous St. will see further narrowing of the site (Lot 94) which will cause turning problems for the large trucks needed to service the site.
The traffic ingress and egress via Woodland Dve and David Low Way intersection already causes problems for traffic turning south and north. Large trucks servicing the site would not be able to manoeuvre through this intersection, particularly if turning south because of the camber of the David Low Way and its small traffic island.
The safety and congestion problems with traffic volumes have not been dealt with satisfactorily.
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES /AMENITY
The natural wet land would be at risk from run- off from the Lot 24 site and Rufous St. from chemical spills, industrial strength chemical cleaning products, petrol and oils from the car park, creating health and safety issues, detrimental and disadvantage affects for the members and families using this water in the Veggie Village Community Gardens.

Intensity of security lighting and other lighting (and signage) from Lot 94 will have nuisance impact on the amenity of the surroundings for residents and wild life in the nearby National Park.

The increased volume of traffic noises and noises generated from this adjacent Lot 24 site to Peregian Beach Community House will disadvantage and will not “strengthen the on-going viability and function” of Peregian Beach Community House as claimed.
The noises generated from Lot 94 will affect the childrens’ activities, meditation/yoga/pilates/tai chi, forums, classes, community interaction and wellbeing and would have negative impacts on the House viability, function and amenity. The noises will also affect and disadvantage the education of the children at the Kindergarten.
The Woodland Drive side of the Community House is where the activity rooms are located and two of the three rooms all open directly to Woodland Dve through full height “garage style” door windows.
The proposed location of the acoustics barrier fence of 2.5 metres would not offer the occupants using these activity rooms that face Woodland Dve, any protection from the increased volumes of traffic and other noises.
As a former member of the Management Committee of the Community House, from its inception until 2012, I can state categorically that the noise levels from the increased volumes of traffic in Woodland Drive and Rufous St and the adjacent site of the proposed supermarket and shops as well as any potential loss of car parking spaces in Lot 95, would severely impact on the viability and function of the House.
The proposed acoustics barrier fence on Lot 94 is not in keeping with the open spaces of the surrounding recreational area and would detract from the amenity.
The residents of Cormorant, Tern, Gannet  Streets and Woodland Dve ( a known walk for tourists and cyclists to Lake Weyba) will all be impacted by the increased traffic  and noises generated by this proposal.  This will negatively affect the amenity of all the residents and visitors alike.
Woodland Dve is the only exit point for these residents.

ECONOMIC ISSUES
The Material Change of Use for the old caravan park at Peregian Beach for the Scanlon (Essence) development was not amidst a designated recreational facilities precinct.
This development was wedged between a Hardware store, an Hotel, a National Park and the David Low Way roadway.
The Scanlon development includes approval for a grocery/deli supermarket and shops of 387m2 not 150m2 as claimed.
Existing facilities, owned by local independent businesses satisfy local demands/needs. (see the Consultant’s Report). The Peregian Beach markets which are held twice a month also satisfy everyday needs of residents and visitors.
Local businesses support local charities, community groups, local producers, local suppliers, local services and the money circulates within the local community.
The proposed supermarket would transfer money from one location to another to the detriment of the independently run businesses in Peregian Village.
A drive of  between 5 to 20 minutes gives Peregian Beach residents a choice of 5 large supermarkets:- 1 at Peregian Springs, 2 at Noosa Junction, and 2 at Coolum. Many city dwellers would be happy with this level of choice within the travel time and distances.
The Applicant does not demonstrate a need for the proposal. Duplication of existing businesses e.g. bottle shop, newsagency, pharmacy etc. will be to the detriment of these Village businesses and could force closure of these. The closure of the newsagency at Birtwell Street shopping centre at Coolum was allegedly from competition from a large supermarket.
The Applicant’s own Consultant’s Report clearly states that “70% did agree that the development of this site as proposed would be of little value to this community and lead to the demise of the current businesses.”

Conclusion
A Material Change of Use for a proposed supermarket in a designated recreational location among existing and established recreational facilities is inappropriate and against established, progressive town planning principles and the wishes of the community.
Submitted by:  Margaret May Wilkie on 29th August, 2013.
Address: 2/5 Pitta St; Peregian Beach 4573

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