letter of submission to SCC Rufous St Shop · MCU13/0092

Unit 3/4 Avocet Parade
Peregian Beach  QLD  4573
Ph: 0419 862 679

The Chief Executive Officer
Sunshine Coast Council
Locked Bag 72
Sunshine Coast Mail Centre  QLD  4560

RE: DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION FOR A MATERIAL CHANGE OF USE – MCU13/0092
Name of Applicant: Multispan Australia
Land Parcel: 5-7 Rufous Street, Peregian Beach
Proposal: Integrated Shopping Complex Development

I wish to make a submission on the abovementioned development application as follows:
I object to the change of use from an area zoned OPEN SPACE/RECREATION to COMMERCIAL USE.  This change is in direct contravention of both The Noosa Plan 2006 and the draft Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme (2012).
This development application will adversely affect my community in the following ways:
Affect the small human scale shopping facilities that already service the community well as well as the economic viability of small business in Peregian Village Square. There are large chain supermarket facilities within 5-10 minutes in Coolum, Peregian Springs and Noosa.
The proposal would DISECT the business/commercial precinct of the Peregian Square and push large scale shopping into our almost non-existent community park areas. There is no need for a second commercial/retail area in Peregian Beach.
The proposal would take the car park of the community centre (in time).
The proposal would bring high volumes of traffic into a peaceful, community use area.  This would affect the mindfulness type activities that happen at the community centre such as meditation, yoga, pilates etc.
The proposal is inconsistent with the community use of the current designation.  The Sunshine Coast Council Open Space Stragey 2011 identifies that ‘Peregian Beach locality is generally under provided for with recreational parks” (2011:35) and I object to the loss of this recreational land for the current and future residents of Peregian Beach and the wider catchment to commercial development.
There will be significant impact to the residents of Cormorant, Tern, Gannet Streets and Woodland Drive and the users of Rufous Street and Veggie Village, the tennis courts (which my daughter and I use often), Di Hurst oval (where many families meet and exercise their dogs), the kindergarten and the Community House if this application was to proceed.
Issues of noise, traffic, resident access, increased lighting, nuisance impact and out of hours deliveries and the noise of service vehicles.
Traffic and pedestrian conflict at Rufous Street between service and delivery vehicles, customer vehicles, resident movements and pedestrians is unsafe and highly problematic.
The intersection at Woodland Drive and David Low Way will significantly increase the volumes of traffic and pose serious risk to pedestrians, children (including those boarding/alighting from buses at the bus stop outside the Community House)
There are environmental risks from run off from the site from chemical spills, industrial strength chemical cleaning products, waste, petrol and oils from the car park.  This will create health and safety issues for the Veggie Village which due to the topography, is physically located  down the crest from the site, where run off will inevitably affect the veggie village, who tend to use organic methods and natural spring water for their plots.  In addition, the significant environmental catchment of the Lake Weyba area is directly behind the Veggie Village and Di Hurst Oval.

I object to the proposed MCU for my community.  The detrimental affects posed by this DA are unacceptable outcomes for my community.  As a resident of Peregian Beach for 7 years, this proposal is in DIRECT CONTRAVENTION to the planning intent and zoning of the land as well as the Eastern Beaches Locality Plan.  Peregian Beach has extremely limited community areas which must be preserved for the current and future residents, and to ensure that Peregian Beach continues to be a place people want to be, due to its’ very special village environment that is family, pedestrian and pet friendly.  It is these very characteristics that residents like myself will fight all the way to preserve, as these unique characteristics will continue to make people want to invest in Peregian Beach.
I also note Attachment G of the Planning Report Application from the Proponent, a Community Study of Peregian Beach Community prepared by Smart Lives Consultancy.  The report clearly identified that;
“When participants of the Community Study were asked for their level of support for the concept of the Peregian Beach Market Place as shown to them on the day with site maps, artistic impressions and photographs depicting the concept of an IGA Marketplace store:
37% of participants indicated a positive response
63% of participants indicated a negative response”

The shopping needs of the community are well serviced nearby.  In addition, the forthcoming ScanIon development adjacent to the Peregian Beach Pub incorporates commercial/retail, so no more is required – certainly not at the unacceptable cost of our community spaces and the associated environmental/noise/traffic/loss of amenity impacts.
I also question council as to where their separate consultation is with the residents of Peregian Beach about the proposal, and the fact that Council would have to change the town plan planning area intent.  Where do you think it is appropriate to change a community/open space designation WITHOUT A SEPARATE CONSULTATION PROCESS WHERE YOU ASK THE COMMUNITY IF THIS IS NEEDED?  Leaving consultation of this important issue that would profoundly affect the community to the obligatory statutory public notification period is not only lazy, it demonstrates exceptionally unprofessional contempt for the role of community in your planning instead of the honoured role of custodianship of the community assets that we hold so dear.
Yours sincerely,

Caroline Osborne