2016-10-11 Planning & Environment Committee Agenda

LOCALITY: COOROY TOWNSHIP
Background                                         form the heart of town, however Elm Street
                                                   and Diamond Street also accommodate
                                                   various businesses and have served as an
In the central south of Noosa Shire, Cooroy
                                                   important, if secondary, centre given the




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is positioned on the North Coast Rail Line,
                                                   original route of the Bruce Highway through
adjacent to the Bruce Highway. As the largest
                                                   town.




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town in the Noosa Shire hinterland, Cooroy is
a busy service centre for a broader population     The railway creates a physical divide through
                                                   the town and improved pedestrian and cyclist




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including communities such as Eumundi and
Belli, both outside of Noosa Shire, and for        connectivity is important for connectedness
                                                   between the west and the east. Pedestrian




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many visitors it forms a gateway to Noosa.
                                                   access at the approaches to the station are
Cooroy has a strong connection with its            also lacking with the crossing of Elm St




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heritage which included timber and dairy           particularly difficult. Vehicular access across
industries. Reusing and recycling historically     the railway is limited to Elm Street where both
significant buildings such as the butter factory   the railway road bridge and intersection with
and the lower mill boiler as well as character     Myall Street are due for an upgrade subject to
buildings in the main street assist with this      State priorities.
connection, as does the locally made public
art and street furniture.                          Low set buildings built to the front boundary,
                                                   with parapets and awnings over the
Employment within Cooroy is underpinned            continuous footpath, epitomise the town
by the commercial and retail functions of          centre. Car parking is in the street or via
the town centre, the substantial health and        laneways to the rear of business premises
wellbeing establishments including the Eden        ensuring the footpaths are spaces for
Rehabilitation Hospital, three schools with a      pedestrians, relatively free of driveways.
total of over 2,000 enrolments, a growing          Shady trees, bench seats and outdoor dining
industrial estate, a community of artists and      add to the vibrant country town atmosphere.
artisans and services to support surrounding
                                                   Cooroy housing is dominated by detached
rural enterprises.
                                                   houses on lots ranging from 600sqm to
Cooroy is reasonably well serviced with            2,000sqm. Houses are a mix of traditional
shops, medical, commercial and trade-related       Queenslanders and modern lowset homes
services. Maple Street and Emerald Street          representative of their age. A limited selection

                                                                                                      Discussion Paper 41