2016-03-01 Infrastructure and Services Committee Agenda

INFRASTRUCTURE & SERVICES COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                               1 MARCH 2016


Following further consultation with local IT businesses regarding the space required for a
successful digital hub along with economic and financial modelling, the project team developed a
new scaled down concept which proposed a two stage development with the second stage only
proceeding if the first stage was commercially successful.

Stakeholder review of the new concept - December 10 2015
The new concept was discussed with stakeholders at a community meeting on 10 December
and, based on the feedback from that meeting, Sparks Architects were engaged to develop a
draft Master Plan for public comment.

Draft Master Plan
The draft master plan proposed a two staged development with Stage 2 predicated on the
commercial success of Stage 1.
Key elements of this plan include retaining approximately 4,300 sq metres of public open space
on the old Peregian Bowls Club site, a two storey 750 sq metre IT enterprise building containing
a Digital Hub, additional car parking in Rufous Street and enhanced pedestrian linkages to
Peregian Village.
The second stage of the draft plan proposed to convert the existing community house to
commercial use and build a new community building with public amenities and additional car
parks. At the completion of the project it is envisaged that the number of formal car parks in the
Precinct will increase from 67 to 163.
Prior to Stage 2 proceeding, formal approval for works on the land around Di Hirst oval that
Council holds in Trust will need to be gained from the Department of Natural Resources and
Mines.

Feedback on the Draft Master Plan
Over 100 people attended a public meeting held on 30 January at the Peregian Beach
Community House to discuss the Rufous Street Master Plan. Comments at the meeting were
generally positive.
Attendees were pleased to see that the proposed Master Plan retained significant public open
space on the old bowls club site. IT professionals and young people liked the concept of the
digital hub with its promise of co-working space and high-speed broadband.
People also liked the way in which the master plan reinforced the pedestrian linkages between
Rufous Street and the Peregian Beach village, and everyone agreed that the new location for
Peregian Beach Community House proposed in Stage 2 is a better location than where it
currently stands.
The proposed additional parking detailed in the plan, however, generated comments both for and
against and some residents were concerned that the plan, once fully implemented, might
generate traffic issues on the corner of David Low Way and Woodland Drive.
Following the Public Meeting on 30 January the draft Master Plan was available for public
viewing and comment on the Your Say Noosa site until 10 February. A total of 78 submissions
and 4 late submissions were received from individuals, local business owners, community
organisations and the Traders’ Association.
All submissions including the late submissions were considered and analysed by the project
team. The key issues that arise from the submissions have been summarized by Adamson Town
Planning refer attachment 4.




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