MCU25/0118 - APPLICATION FOR MATERIAL CHANGE OF USE FOR MULITIPLE DWELLING - AFFORDABLE RENTAL PREMISES (25 x SMALL DWELLINGS) AT 64 LAKE MACDONALD DRIVE, COOROY · ATTACHMENT 2 - (MCU25 0118) - PLANNING OFFICERS REPORT

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING REPORT                               10 FEBRUARY 2026


development which is contrary to wide road reserve to the east, which includes a minimum
the Noosa Plan. The sloping land 5-metre landscaped buffer for amenity.
makes the tall structures even more
                                    As outlined in the assessment, a shortfall of one visitor car
visually prominent from the street.
                                    parking space is considered acceptable in this instance.
Establishing this development in
                                    Overall, the density aligns with the parameters of the
addition to the similar development
                                    Noosa Plan 2020, including site cover, gross floor area,
at Lot 1/62 Lake Macdonald Drive is
                                    height, and car parking. Minor relaxations have been
compounding the scale of these
                                    sought for building height, individual building sizes and
developments in Cooroy which
                                    eastern and southern boundary setbacks, as detailed in
should be retained for low scale
                                    the report.
housing.
Development should enhance
neighbourhoods, respect existing
residents and minimise adverse
amenity impacts such as noise and
traffic, which this proposal does not
achieve given the proposed scale
and intensity which are seen as
incompatible with and disruptive to
the existing low density residential
area.

Inconsistent with Cooroy Local The development is consistent with the Cooroy Local Plan
Plan                           Code insofar as it:
The bulk, scale, setbacks and built         •   Provides for attached housing locates in well
form of the development would                   serviced areas and increases housing choice.
erode the local amenity and                 •   Advances housing choice by incorporating small
residential character of Cooroy                 dwellings, accessible housing and affordable
which currently aims to provide a               housing.
village style atmosphere with low-
rise form and community identity.        The 3-metre setback to the cemetery complies with the
The visual impact, increased             planning scheme, in addition to landscaping on the subject
density, loss of privacy and change      site the subdivision approval requires a landscaped buffer
in neighbourhood composition as a        along the common boundary (on the cemetery side) for a
result of the development would          width of 2 metres to provide adequate buffering between
alter the established local character    the two land uses.
and diminish the amenity of existing  The roof facing Lake Macdonald Drive has been designed
residents, being inconsistent with    to evoke the image of a saw blade in reference to the
and contradictory of the vision for   region’s timber milling industry which has been part of the
the surrounding area.                 local community from as early as 1890s. The roof form is
The 3-metre side setback is seen as considered acceptable in this regard.
inadequate to provide sufficient
buffer to the cemetery with retaining
walls further limiting the available
space.
Skillion roofs are not consistent with
Cooroy’s architectural character
and will detract from the town’s
heritage character.