Submission MCU13_0092 Bond Robotham · MCU13/0092

Submission: Objection to proposed commercial development –
5–7 Rufous Street, Peregian Beach 4573

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

Application details

File No:					MCU13/0092
Name of applicant:			Multi Span Australia Pty Ltd
Postal address of land:			5–7 Rufous Street, Peregian Beach 4573
Nature of proposed development:	Integrated shopping complex development

Submitter details

Full Name:  				Richard Alan Bond
Mary Anne Robotham
Postal address:				PO Box 331, Peregian Beach 4573
Date of Submission:			23 August 2013

Details of Submission

Pursuant to the Sustainable Planning Act 2009, we make the following submission:

We object to the application for proposed commercial use (integrated shopping complex) of the Peregian Beach Bowls Club area (5–7 Rufous Street, Peregian Beach).

This area is zoned Open Space/ Recreation as determined in both the Noosa Plan 2006 and the draft Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme (2012).

The proposed development will adversely affect community use of the current tennis courts, the Peregian Beach Community House, Kindergarten, Veggie Village and Di Hurst Oval; will grossly compromise the amenity of the surrounding residents; and will negatively impact the already precarious viability of many local traders.

The Sunshine Coast Council Open Space Strategy 2011 identifies that “Peregian Beach locality area is generally under-provided for with recreational parks” (2011:35). We object to the potential loss of this precious recreational land for current and future residents of Peregian Beach and environs to unnecessary commercial development.

We further object for the following reasons:

Planning:
This application does not meet the requirements for Open Space Recreation within the Noosa Plan 2006 which was developed after considerable community consultation.
Peregian Beach has a compact village centre which is a fundamental focus of community and retail activity and is essential to the sense of place which the Peregian Beach enjoys.
This application, if approved, seeks to create an alternative ‘integrated shopping complex’ which would not only dislocate this focus but would negatively impact both economically and socially on the existing village.
If the Peregian Beach Bowls Club site is co-opted for a supermarket, precious sporting and recreation land will be lost and future expansion of these activities will be impossible. Alternative/additional sporting or recreational spaces on public or private land are not currently available. As Peregian Beach is located between the ocean and national park reserve, additional space will not be ‘generated’ in the future.
The proposed development is not readily connected to the existing village. The distance to the village is over 350m via the pathway next to the Peregian Beach Hotel and 550m via Woodland Drive and David Low Way.
The developer has indicated an intention to appropriate part of the Peregian Beach Community House car park to ensure more ready access. This car park is designated for community use/access not for a private commercial use.

Economic:
Peregian Beach residents are more than adequately supplied with full-service supermarkets at Peregian Springs, Coolum Beach and Noosa Junction.
Another supermarket has been approved for the Essence development close to the village centre. Smaller local stores meet day-to-day needs most adequately.
The level of retail spending available in the Peregian Beach area is finite. This proposal will not generate additional spending but, rather, will drain income from businesses in Peregian Village and from the supermarkets at Peregian Springs, Coolum and Noosa Junction. The developer offers no convincing evidence that additional retail spending will be created in Peregian Beach.
Most Peregian Beach residents will drive to a supermarket for the convenience of transport of purchases. A supermarket on the Bowls Club site would not offer additional convenience.

Environmental:
Amenity
The impact on the residents of Cormorant, Tern, Gannet Streets and Woodland Drive and those who use Rufous Street and Veggie Village, the tennis courts, Di Hurst Oval, the Kindergarten, the Co-op and the PB Community House will be considerable if this application is approved.
Noise, increased traffic movements, access and parking difficulties for residents, deliveries out of hours, increased lighting (and security lighting) and potential nuisance impacts will all negatively affect the amenity of local residents and the users of these existing community and recreational facilities.
The establishment of a retail development in an area devoted to cultural, sporting, gardening and wellness activities is patently inappropriate.
The proposed development is adjacent to the Peregian Beach Community House where mindful activities such as meditation, yoga, Pilates, first aid classes, etc. are conducted and close to a sporting field and a community garden.
Drainage
The risk from noxious run-off from the site is real and concerning. Chemicals, industrial-strength cleaning products, and petrol and oils from the car park present health and safety issues for the residents and for the gardeners using the natural fresh water spring for their garden plots in the Veggie Village Community Gardens. There is also the risk of penetration of chemicals into the fragile wetland environment close by.

Traffic:
Access and parking
The site is inappropriately located with limited access through a narrow street. Traffic conflict at the Rufous Street entrance to the site will be inevitable; service and delivery vehicles, private customer vehicles and pedestrians will all use this access.
Safety concerns
The increased volumes of traffic on Rufous Street, Woodland Drive, David Low Way and surrounding streets will elevate the level of risk to pedestrians and children including very young children at the kindergarten and students accessing school buses at the David Low Way bus stops.
The Woodland Drive and David Low Way intersection, already a dangerous intersection, will suffer greatly increased traffic congestion and safety issues will be a major problem.

For these reasons, we request that the Sunshine Coast Council does not approve this application.

Richard Bond and Anne Robotham