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NOOSA NORTH SHORE ECO-TOURISM PORTAL

Noosa North Shore is a special place, where visitors can enjoy the wilderness in a
location that is readily accessible by car and coach from the major urban areas of south-
east Queensland and by air and ground transport from other parts of Australia and
overseas.

In response to Council’s vision for Noosa North Shore and that of the draft Noosa North
Shore Management Strategy, Petrac Land Holdings Pty Ltd (“Petrac”) has developed a
concept that will provide quality visitor accommodation and services on an existing
disturbed site in a form and landscape character that is subservient to the environment
in which it is located. This concept is the Noosa North Shore Eco-Tourism Portal which
will provide quality tourist accommodation and facilities in a manner that is subservient
to the natural environment.

The Noosa North Shore Eco-Tourism Portal site at Maximillian Road and Beach Road
(Lot 7 on RP 844337) has an area of 71.17 hectares and is situated directly south of the
Noosa North Shore Retreat. Respecting and responding to its location and setting, the
Noosa North Shore Eco-Tourism Portal will provide a unique visitor experience and a
centre of environmental wilderness excellence at the southern gateway to the Great
Sandy Region. The Noosa North Shore Eco-Tourism Portal will also assist in the
protection of the Noosa North Shore’s natural attributes by absorbing some of the
impacts that would otherwise place pressure on the Great Sandy National Park and
other fragile areas of wilderness on Noosa North Shore.

Adopting best practice environmental management techniques, the Noosa North Shore
Eco-Tourism Portal will offer visitor accommodation across a spectrum of styles and
affordability, together with interpretive, educative and tourist services that complement
the site’s location and setting. The design of accommodation and services will utilise
Queensland coastal lightweight architectural themes and embrace the use:of best
practice sustainability principles and climate sensitive features. Together with the
existing Noosa North Shore Retreat, the Noosa North Shore Eco-Tourism Portal will
provide a nodal point for visitor accommodation and services at the gateway to the
Noosa North Shore.

Recognising that the Noosa North Shore area is a special place for many people, Petrac
sought a special approach to the planning and design of the Noosa North Shore Eco-
Tourism Portal. Petrac decided that an innovative approach was required to ensure that
the project would respond to.the values and outcomes desired by the many
stakeholders, interest groups and community members with an interest in the site and
character of the greater North Shore area. The Enquiry By Design process brought
together Petrac, the project team, the community and Council to create a vision and
collaboratively design a concept for the site. The outcome of the Enquiry By Design is
the Noosa North Shore Eco-Tourism Portal. Petrac is committed to continuous
community consultation and expects to have ongoing dialogue with Council and the
Community.