2014-01-28 Planning & Organisation Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                               28 JANUARY 2014


    The proposal is supported by the Noosa Junction Placemaking Strategy and will deliver the
     key outcomes identified for the site by the Noosa Junction Placemaking Master Plan at no
     cost to Council or the community;
    There is a community need for the proposed development (as demonstrated by the Retail
     liquor and hotel needs assessment);
    The proposal will result in economic and social benefits including increased shopping
     choice, amenity and convenience and additional employment opportunities;
    The continued use of the bowls club use is no longer viable on the site and will cease
     regardless of this application in May 2015. The retention of a bowling green or constructing
     a new synthetic green was investigated as part of the proposal and it was determined that it
     is not financially viable for the Noosa Bowls Club to service a green on this site even in a
     downsized format;
    The proposed use and development form, scale and character is consistent with and
     compatible with the surrounding Noosa Junction business centre zoned lands;
    The proposal will not compromise the overall outcomes for the Noosaville Locality or
     Desired Environmental Outcomes of the planning scheme;
    The planning scheme has been partially overtaken by events, for the reasons identified
     above.
The applicant submitted an Economic Needs Report in relation to the proposed commercial uses.
Council engaged an Economic Consultant, Jon Norling of Norling Consulting, to undertake a peer
review of the applicant’s needs assessment.

The applicant’s grounds are assessed in further detail in the sections that follow Community
Services Zoned Land.

The Noosa Bowls Club site is currently zoned Community Services under the Noosa Plan, largely
in recognition of its existing use as a Bowls Club. Across Noosa, bowls clubs were generally
zoned Open Space Recreation, however, in Noosa Junction (and in Pomona) where located in or
immediately adjacent to the centre, the Community Services zone was applied in recognition that
other community uses may become appropriate on the land in an effort to reinforce the
community hub.

The Bowls Club site’s Community Services zoning currently provides for the development of
community uses, commercial medical uses and retirement / special needs housing.

The applicant has attempted to address the loss of community zoned land in Noosa Junction
however John Norling’s peer review states it has “not adequately demonstrated the community
would not be disadvantaged by the loss of community zoned land”. John Norling’s report states
“the letter from KHA Development Managers dated 18 September attempted to deal with this
issue by claiming that the Club was unfinancial, would close in any case and the fact that the
land could be developed for a Retirement Village eroded its ability to continue to provide a
community service. These arguments are considered weak, particularly given that there has
been no assessment as to whether the existing supply of Community Services (education,
emergency services, open space, health, social, religious and funeral) facilities at Noosa Junction
is considered adequate or not.”

To determine the future use of this site an assessment is required as to the current and future
demand for Community Facilities in Noosa Junction generally, and specifically for the Bowls Club
site.




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