Attachment 4 - Officer Report Dated 12 September 2023

ATTACHMENT 1 – 131998.981211.5 – ACTING COORDINATOR PLANNING REPORT
REPORT
1.     PROPOSAL
This application seeks approval for an Other Change to a current development approval for an
Integrated Permaculture Designed Organic Orchard and Golf Course (18 holes). The site is
currently owned by the Christian Youth Council who is also the applicant for this proposal and runs
the CYC Burleigh which specialises in experimental school camp learning opportunities, outdoor
education and group accommodation.
The proposed other change is sought to expand the development approval to include group farm
stays and associated supporting infrastructure for up to 299 persons (with a gross floor area of
8,325m2) and incorporate a third lot to the north of the golf course – lot 650.
The facility is proposed to be used for:
•    School camps – during school term
•    Weekend groups (other tourist groups) – hired to various sporting/community groups such as
     church groups, special interest groups (i.e. legacy or craft groups)
•    School holiday use – use for youth camps over school holidays, typically accommodating week-
     long camps.
The facility comprises four distinct areas:
•      A communal area (2330m2) including offices, meeting room, reception, kitchen, and dining
       hall (543.5m2). A Covered communal sports hall (945m2) and amenities
•      Village 1 (1365m2) which includes a central dining area, secondary dining area, kitchen,
       three enclosed activity areas and shared accommodation
•      Village 2 (1735m2) which includes a central dining area, secondary dining area, kitchen,
       three enclosed activity areas and shared accommodation
•      Village 3 (915m2) which includes a central dining area, kitchen, three enclosed activity
       areas and shared accommodation
To support the accommodation operations, up to 50 staff will be engaged on the site for farm and
building maintenance, teachers, cooks, cleaners and activity coordinators. The applicant advises
that only the site manager will live on the site with all staff to live in the local community.
The applicant advises the facilities will not be open to the general public for day visitors or similar,
with the golf course to be closed to the general public and maintained as one of the activity
offerings. It is not proposed that the facilities will be used for special events or competitions or
functions as it is expected that the facility will be booked for approximately 40 weeks of the year
by schools, with the remaining weeks booked for school holiday camps.
The applicant advises the vision is to provide a farm to plate visitor accommodation experience for
groups interested in permaculture. The proposal adds a farm stay to the existing golf course and
expands the existing permaculture farming practices to include a syntropic market garden with
paddock grazing areas.
The proposed built form is designed around the existing (and amended) farming activities
consisting of a reception and central hall building, with three accommodation villages. The villages
will accommodate 84, 112 and 50 people in small cabins/rooms (246 beds) and nearby
manager/teacher rooms for up to 299 persons. Each cabin will have an ensuite and sleep a
maximum of 4 people in various configurations. The village includes activity/relaxation areas and
a dining area.
The existing clubhouse is proposed to be demolished with a new reception, office, dining/kitchen
and multipurpose hall proposed adjoining the main car parking and bus parking area.
The villages are to be predominantly used for school and church groups, as well as other tourist
groups seeking to stay in a unique working farm setting where the accommodation, cropping,
livestock and golfing complement each other and the environment.