Zoning submission · MCU13/0092

Submission

Reference
File number:		..	..	…	..	..	MCU13/0092
Postal Address of land (as advertised)	..	..	5-7 Rufous Street
..	Peregian Beach, QLD 4573
Lot 94, SP 137431
Nature of Proposed Development: 	Development Permit for Material Change
Of use of Premises

I wish to lodge the following objection with regard to the proposed development referenced above.

As a starting point, the proposed development does not comply with the stated Division-16 “Open Space Recreation Zone” requirements and I contend there’s no good reason for this zoning not to continue.

An argument has been put forward, with regard to the recent use of the land, that the site has been “abandoned” which I believe is emotive and not entirely the case.  Following the closure of the Bowls Club, an area of the Club’s land was leased for use as volley-ball courts.  This usage, in harmony with the land’s zoning, was, I believe highly popular.  So popular, indeed, that lighting was installed so that play could continue even after dark.  This usage of the land was stopped, I believe, only because its owner was not prepared to renew the lease.  That is to say, the so-called “abandonment” of the land was as a result of its owners forced action, not as a result of its would-be users.  Indeed, the popularity of the volley-ball courts reinforces the Peregian Beach’s community need for the continued use of, and access to Recreational Zoned spaces.

At present the focal point of the Peregian community is its highly regarded and prized “village square”.  A small supermarket has been part of these retail shops for a number of years, the site of which has been sold, and an application agreed with Council for its redevelopment that doesn’t contain provision for a supermarket type outlet.  (Yet to-date the supermarket continues to operate).  There also exists, I believe an agreed application for a “7-11” type mini supermarket type outlet as part of the old Peregian Caravan Park site’s redevelopment that would, when operational, replicate much of the services provided by the present village-square outlet.  The above application proposes to supply supermarket type and other shopping services some 250-meters outside of the “village square” environment.  Such a site, would in my opinion, hugely detract from Peregian’s “village” ambience.  Not only would it fragment the focus of the retail services, but would potentially draw economic spending away from the “village” to its detriment.  I would also contend that most “supermarket” type shopping is done in conjunction with car style transport.  A style which I believe the present application agrees with.  I’d contend that once aboard their car, any would-be Peregian supermarket shopper has an existing wide choice of handy supermarket retail venues available in Peregian Springs, Coolum and Noosa Fair.

With regard to car-transport, the would-be extra vehicle traffic through part of Woodland Drive into Rufous Street (and return) would impose onerous traffic volumes and attendant noise levels on these existing residential streets.  Assurances that activities such as shop deliveries would be restricted to reasonable hours could not, surely, be entirely relied upon in reality.  Council would have no means of regularly monitoring such activities and would, no doubt, rely solely on nearby residents to report infringements of agreed limits.  Such would-be extra traffic volumes would also impose a huge impact on the junction between the David Low Way and Woodland Drive.  Not to mention the risks involved in two traffic flows making right-hand turns against on-coming David Low Way traffic.

Overall, I believe the loss of such a significant parcel of recreational zoned land would severely affect the Peregian community’s access to local sporting venues and would impose an over-bearing commercial presence on the remaining proximate locations.  This view is coupled with a belief that there’s no good commercial, social or other need for another closely near-by shopping complex that would operate in competition to the existing Peregian Village complex and by its existence weaken and fragment Peregian’s presently much valued “village” atmosphere, ambience and focal identity.

David Henderson
57 Podargus Parade
Peregian Beach  4573