MCU14/0106 Submission PM Object - Ian Kilpatrick

Subject: Noosa Civic Expansion  MCU14/0106
From: Ian Kilpatrick
Date: 2015-07-29T01:05:29+00:00
To: Mailbox Council Mail

Dear Sir/Madam

I have lived in Noosa for over 20 years and object to the further development of Noosa Civic and fully endorse the comments made by a friend of mine in the submission below.

Thank you

Ian Kilpatrick
30 Sobraon St
Sunrise Beach.


Subject: Noosa Civic Expansion MCU14/0106

Sir/Madam,
May I make the following submissions in respect to the above MCU Application:--
1. The land now known as Noosa Civic was intended by the Noosa Plan to be developed as a business park for “tech/soft” industries to complement the desires of residents for a sustainable future that protected the natural assets of the Shire while creating employment’
2.The Shire was and remains well served with adequate commercial precincts at Tewantin, Noosaville, Noosa Junction, Noosa Heads ,Sunshine Beach and Peregian which are all still underdeveloped and give residents the opportunity to have services close to where they live.
3. There was no need for Noosa Civic to be developed as a massive shopping centre before the existing commercial precincts were approaching capacity and viability.
4. Previous developers of Noosa Civic convinced decision makers to soften their planning approach on the basis that the desired “business uses” would never be available unless the developers could develop the shopping centre first to make the project “viable”. The second stage was proposed to provide for the “business uses” to satisfy the original planning intent.
5.We have now reached the position that the commercial precincts of the shire are still underdeveloped with tenancy vacancies and businesses are struggling to be viable while the Noosa Civic shopping centre wants to expand further rather than be developed as originally intended for “business uses”.
6.The developer who convinced decision makers to allow the existing development has exited with a substantial amount of money to leave the new owners to push for more shops to justify their purchase price. The current owners purchased the land knowing that Council’s plan for the area was not for an expanded shopping centre.
7. Sound decisions have been taken to limit the population of the shire to give it a sustainable future. The consequence of oversupply of commercial/shopping spaces is not only to erode the viability and amenity of the shire’s existing precincts but also to result in pressure to allow population and residential density increases in an attempt to improve the viability of commercial precincts.
8. If Council is minded to agree to this application, then they should consider what they can do to enhance the existing commercial precincts with some relaxation of regulations to make businesses more viable or amendments to planning laws to allow for mixed uses---eg., residential over commercial in areas like The Junction to bring some people into the area and provide for  accommodation for employees in the hospitality and tourism support industries. If the Council creates this over supply problem they must take some specific actions to support/change those areas affected by their decision, not just pay lip service by promotion of the areas affected.
 9.The impact on the town and community of our village precincts being full of empty shops with buildings becoming run down will be dramatic and not be the Noosa the community wants. This will have a flow on effect to Tourism as people will not want to visit a tired, struggling community with struggling businesses when vibrant locations are the alternative.
10. In short, Noosa was planned for a balance between resident numbers and commercial areas for services to those residents. Noosa Civic has upset that balance and there is a clear choice between population increase to restore the balance or reduce the commercial footprint and limit growth. A small community cannot have the same scale of shopping services as a City and I believe the majority of residents are happy to drive a short distance down the coast or go to Brisbane on the infrequent occasions they require services unavailable locally---and with major purchases will probably do so in any event to gain a wider choice.
11.  Demographic information relied on should be carefully examined as the Noosa population has a large percentage of low/limited incomes being either retired or servicing the tourism/hospitality industry. A large percentage of available housing in the area is not occupied for most of the year as they are “second homes”. Spending patterns of visitors and limited income residents are entirely different from those patterns found in a major city and the same statistics can’t be applied.

Your consideration of these issues when making a decision will be appreciated.

Yours Faithfully,
Rod Sykes
Resident ,Sunshine Beach.