FURTHER REPORT - Planning & Environment Committee 6 May 2025 MCU21/0110

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING                                                  6 MAY 2025


On 13 November 2023 the applicant made an Other Change to the application to include an
extension to the existing clubhouse. The change was an Other Change as it introduced a new land
use into the application. This meant that the application reverted to the Confirmation Notice stage
and no decision was able to be made on the application at the 13 November 2023 General
Committee Meeting.
The change application formalised the changes to the clubhouse that were referred to in the original
report, and included the following:
         •   Minor alterations to the internal configurations of the bar, kitchen, cold room and store
             area (red dotted outline); and
         •   New liquor cool room, new dry store, new security & procurement office, new wet and
             dry waste areas and new enclosed storage area (shown as yellow shading).
A report considering the proposal including the Other Change was prepared for consideration at the
Planning and Environment Committee dated 11 June 2024. At this meeting the matter was referred
to the General Committee Meeting of 17 June 2024. At the General Committee meeting it was agreed
to defer the matter to a future meeting round as the applicant requested to extend the decision-
making period so it could enter into meaningful discussions about changes that might be made to
the proposed Resort Hotel, that are reasonable, to address any valid planning concerns Councillors
might have about the development.
On 27 February 2025, the applicant made a minor change to the existing application reducing the
proposal from a 106 bedroom resort to a 69 bedroom resort. in a letter supporting the amended
application the applicant advises:
     The request for a minor change stems from concerns raised by councillors about the scale of
     the development, which unavoidably, extends into the Recreation and Open Space Zone and
     partly into the Biodiversity, Waterways and Wetlands Overlay (Biodiversity Overlay) towards
     the east of the site. This is despite the development not having a significant impact on any
     environmental values as confirmed by Dr Watson and Council’s environmental officer. Other
     concerns were raised about the scale and extent of the pools within the centre of the site and
     the continued operation of the tennis courts, including during construction.
     The changes being made to the development are detailed below:
         •   Pavilion 5 has been removed from the top of the site towards the east with the stair and
             lift area reconfigured for Pavilion 4.
         •   Pavilion 1, Level 1 presidential suite changed to two (2) deluxe rooms with a reduction
             in the terrace areas at ground level.
         •   The character and privacy of the central recreation zone has been strengthened by
             increasing the planted landscape spaces, with the swimming pools reduced in size and
             enhanced by being integrated into a natural landscape setting.
         •   A minor increase in the size of the amenities building will provide for wellness facilities
             that complement the recreation zone.
         •   A change to the overall design of the open space areas, with pathways and small deck
             areas added to make some passive use of the open space area towards the east where
             Pavilion 5 was located while maintaining the existing vegetation.
         •   An increase in the size of the southeastern tennis court to a ITF (pro-tour size) tennis
             court; and
         •   A reduction in the height of the structures above the decked carpark to the south with
             the solar panels to be maintained.
The minor change plans form the basis of the current assessment. Noting earlier officer
recommendations regarding previous versions of the development and noting the reduced footprint