Withdrawal of Application - MCU18-0178.msg

Subject: FW: MCU Application - Withdrawal - Thomas Surfboards

From: Andrew St Baker <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> > 
Sent: Saturday, 23 March 2019 6:48 PM
To: Tony Wellington <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> >; Brian Stockwell <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> >; Frank Pardon <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> >; Ingrid Jackson <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> >; Jess Glasgow <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> >; Frank Wilkie <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> >; Joe Jurisevic <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> >
Cc: Glen Conforti <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> >; Jack Lewis <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> >; Thomas Bexon <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> >; Jake Bowrey <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> >
Subject: Fwd: MCU Application - Withdrawal - Thomas Surfboards
 
Dear Mayor and Councillors,
 
Please find attached a letter sent to Glen Conforti, councils development assessment officer responsible for our application.
 
I seek your support for the last remaining fully fledged surfboard manufacture business in Noosa. Thomas Surfboards.
 
I would be delighted any of you wished to visit the Thomas Surfboards so that I can introduce you to Thomas Bexon and Jake Bowrey the founders and owners of Thomas Surfboards and to walk you through and explain the various aspects of the integrated business.
 
Andrew St Baker
Chairman
Thomas Surfboards

Mobile:
+61 488 442 458

4 Project Avenue
Noosaville QLD 4566
Australia
 
	Begin forwarded message:
	 
	From: Andrew St Baker <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> >
	Subject: MCU Application - Withdrawal - Thomas Surfboards
	Date: 23 March 2019 at 2:55:18 pm AEST
	To: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> 
	Cc: Jack Lewis <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> >
	 
	Hi Glen,
	 
	I would like to thank council for their extensions of time whilst we examined the integration of an adjoining property and subsequently to obtain land owner consent from the body corporate associated with one of the properties under lease to Thomas Surfboards.
	 
	Despite the efforts and expense incurred by the business to examine this and have a planning report and application prepared Thomas Surfboards has ultimately decided not to proceed any further with the MCU application.
	 
	The reasons are:
	 
	*	Thomas Surfboards cannot afford the additional costs of completing the application. The major expense being a 3X multiplier $18,000 council assessment fee,
	 
	*	Councils assessment team would be assessing the application under an out of date and antiquated planning scheme that has clearly been over taken by events,
	 
	*	Action by council in regard to perceived non compliant uses by existing businesses in the industrial zone is subject to a moratorium issued by council in 2015,
	 
	*	We have been operating in the industrial zone for more than 10 years and we are an exisiting business and have the benefit of this moratorium issued in 2015,
	 
	*	The Thomas Surfboards business model is a collective of different uses that meld together centred around the primary surfboard manufacturing business. This creates a unique and vibrant work place.
	 
	*	Collectively the integrated thomas business complies with the the industrial zone acceptable use ratio of Industry/Office/Retail, 60/20/20.
	 
	*	Our surfshop which councils planning office has taken issue with is inextricably associated with our surfboard making, accessories and apparel business. Like most surfboard factories across the country and around the world it has a surf shop attached. Our surfshop has always included the sale of coffee of cold drinks. This is a small ancillary activity and it predominantly provides a service for staff and visitors to the business. It is by no means a full blown cafe or coffee shop, there is no food for sale or cooking or anything of the nature.
	 
	*	Our barbershop (Captain SIp Sops) has occupied a small part of our surfshop for over 10 years. In the noosaville industrial zone. We were the first surfboard factory in the world to include a barbershop in its surfshop. The barbershop is synonymous with the Thomas business and brand. The inclusion of a barbershop has been copied by surf shops and factories in Australia and overseas. Whilst the barbershop is a small ancillary use taking up approximately only 25sqm it is a fundamental adjunct and identifying brand for Thomas Surfboards. Its part of the DNA of Thomas Surfboards.
	 
	*	We have added a Captain Sip Sips grooming, hair and beard products wholesale business to our collection of uses within Thomas Surfboards. These products are warehoused, repackaged and distributed  like our surfboards accessories and apparel. These are compliant industry activities. It is possible for council to accept that the barbershop provides a suitable medium for not only selling these grooming products but for practical product testing and development.
	 
	*	We are preparing to add a Captain Sip Sips Barber Vocational Education and Training services. The business has completed the relevant certification to allow it to become a Registered Training Office (RTO) and to deliver nationally recognised Vocational Education and Training (VET). A course delivery agreement is in advanced stages with HATS Qld Pty Ltd an eminent hairdressing apprenticeship training service and a barbershop is an essential component for the training aspect of this VET service.
	 
	*	This is not a stand alone barbershop. It is clearly much more than that. We have provided multiple basis upon which council could choose to rely to justify continuation of the use within the Thomas Surfboards premises.
	 
	*	Council have proposed for a Enterprise Precinct which would include the properties associated with the integrated Thomas Surfboards business.
	 
	*	Councils promotional “Business Opportunities” video on Instagram and youtube states that councils’ proposed new planning scheme encourages new business ideas which create opportunities, embraces a new range of diverse businesses and increases flexibility in commercial areas for different businesses to co-exist.
	 
	*	The integrated Thomas Surfboards business is a new business idea, it creates opportunities and it embraces a range of diverse businesses that co-exist. It is an exact fit for councils new planning scheme objectives as expressed in this Business Opportunities promotional video.
	 
	*	It is worth pointing out councils video depicts a barbershop next to a Mechanic. See below exert.
	 
	 
	https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PafyTPsyfJ4 <https://apac01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DPafyTPsyfJ4&data=02%7C01%7C[email protected]%7C298fbc78b0514072e6aa08d6af6c2001%7C99d9dd67b90f4999a44ef2d3700133b2%7C0%7C0%7C636889276278290343&sdata=twQO3iwEYqEd3qcLi5LuId6nwsPsa%2Bj386TQukNF3yk%3D&reserved=0> 
	 
	 
	
	 
	The concept of the Venture Drive Enterprise Precinct proposed in the new plan is a positive and progressive step, that is provided the written scheme actually enables this to occur. Current drafting seems to fall short in this regard and hopefully this will be examined closer as the new planning scheme is further developed.
	 
	We are keen to work with council and to provide additional information to support a basis for maintaining our integrated business.
	 
	Regards
	 
	Andrew James St Baker
	Thomas Surfboards
	4 Project Avenue
	Noosaville QLD 4566
	Australia