Town Planning Report

 SECTION 5 – GROUNDS WARRANTING APPROVAL OF APPLICATION
80. It is acknowledged that there is conflict between the proposed development and the planning
    scheme however significant community and planning benefits exist that warrant approval of the
    proposed development despite such conflict. The benefits that stand to flow from approval of the
    proposal include:

    Golf Club Benefits

81. The Cooroy Golf Club is an important community facility which has been recently experiencing
    financial difficulty as a result of a declining membership base. As such the development proposes a
    number of measures to improve the viability of the Golf Club by:

    (a) Bolstering the Golf Club membership base by guaranteeing a membership for each household
        within the GemLife community for a period of 10 years.
    (b) Delivering a new and improved club house with a dedicated pro shop, restaurant, café, function
        room, outdoor deck and terrace area. This club house will be a key drawcard for the golf club
        allowing for the attraction of new members.
    (c) Reconfiguring the golf course to keep same amount of golf holes whilst accommodating the re-
        located club house, new car park and associated access.
    (d) Significantly improving the safety of vehicle access to the golf club by re-locating it to come off
        a dedicated internal access road with appropriate turning lanes (rather than the existing sub
        optimal access from Myall Street)
    (e) Provision of 96 dedicated car parking spaces for the golf club (significantly more than the current
        amount of spaces provided). Such spaces will be provided internally within the site which will
        be an improved visual amenity outcome when compared to the ad hoc parking arrangement
        along Myall Street.

    Community Benefits

82. The proposed development stands to deliver community benefit for the Cooroy township in the
    following ways:

     (a) Responds to the need for age specific housing – The need to provide housing for an ageing
         population within the shire is well documented (in particular by the Housing Needs Assessment)
         prepared by Briggs and Mortar for Noosa Council in 2017. This report identified a need for
         additional retirement dwellings (particularly smaller and more affordable dwellings) to be
         provided within the shire to meet the needs of an ageing population. We understand that the
         recommendations of this housing assessment are being translated into the final version of the
         new planning scheme, however in the meantime the proposed development stands to provide
         a direct response to this housing need by delivering 232 retirement dwellings and associated
         facilities to cater for residents of Cooroy and the surrounding area.

     (b) Allows residents to age in place – The benefits of ‘ageing in place’ so that older people can
         remain in proximity to friends, family and their community are also well documented. The


Material Change of Use and Reconfiguration of a Lot                                         Pg 42 of 44