2021-01-27 Special Meeting Agenda

SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA                                                           27 JANUARY 2021


     “Timber use is a theme throughout the playground, particularly in the design of ancillary
      shelter structures and furniture.”
Extensive community consultation was conducted by a contracted consultant to engage and report
on community comments and concerns.
The reports from this community consultation relevant to the 2019 design include:
     support for the development of the Lower Mill Site for community use;
     support for the landscaping and trail design that links the overflow parking on the northern
      side of the river to the town centre;
     appreciation of the BBQ and picnic facilities to be provided;
     encouragement to providing meeting spaces;  support for the protection of the riparian zone
      and related vegetation buffer;
     encouragement to remove weed species from the riparian zone;
     support for open green space provided;
     concern for the limited size of the space to include buildings;
     the need to consider the flood prone nature of the site;
     the need to ensure that the development does not cause an increase in upstream flood
      levels; and
     the need of additional parking spaces.
2006 – Works & Community Services Committee Report published. The publically available Noosa
Council Works & Community Services Report 2006 discussed the implementation of the Design
for Living Lower Mill Masterplan concept.
2008 March - Noosa Council merger with Shire of Maroochy and City of Caloundra to form
Sunshine Coast Region.
2010 – New Cooroy Library Built Community consultation was conducted with the regard to the
design features and location of the Cooroy Library, adjacent to the Lower Mill site.
2014 January - Noosa Council re-established
2015 – Council reviewed Town Centre infrastructure priorities prior to the merger and recognise
the identification of an iconic nature based playground to be constructed in the Noosa hinterland.
2015/16 – Funding approved in 2015/2016 Capital Works Budget for Planning & Design for a
Hinterland Playground
2016 – Council Meeting Hinterland Playground Concept Presentation
Staff presented the options for the location of a nature based, all-abilities Hinterland playground.
The evaluation for a playground space within the townships of Cooroy, Cooran, Pomona and Kin
Kin included:
     Available space;
     minimisation of environmental impacts;
     existing facilities;
     connectivity to services
     parking; and
     economic development.
Cooroy was chosen as the preferred location due to the site assessments and historical nature of
the site relating to its proposed development as a community use facility.
Councillors provided positive feedback on the proposal of a nature based playground at Cooroy.


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