2015-04-28 Planning and Organisation Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                   28 APRIL 2015


storage facilities could reasonably be accommodated within Council’s new industrial
subdivision. As such, we would contend that there is a low to medium level of need for the
self-storage component of the proposed development on the subject site.
Tourist Park
Foresight Partners need assessment highlights the broad growth of caravanning, RV’s and
grey nomads in Australia in recent years and further states:
… the loss of caravan parks and campgrounds has constrained industry growth over the
past five years. The caravan park industry is moving to offer more facilities and better
accommodation. Unpowered sites are being upgraded to powered sites, and parks are
offering more cabin accommodation to improve profitability as well as meet higher market
expectations.
Using historic caravan and campground listings for the Sunshine Coast region, Foresight
Partners found that, since 2001, seven caravan parks appear to have closed (but two have
opened).
The proposed Myall Street tourist park, although relatively small, will add to Noosa’s, and the
Sunshine Coast’s, tourism infrastructure, particularly for the growing caravan and self-
contained traveller market.
Economic Associates’ peer review finds:
… the applicant has demonstrated need for additional tourist park facilities within the
Sunshine Coast generally, but not specifically in the locality of Cooroy or the subject site.
Our conclusion that need has not been demonstrated for this component of the development
on the subject site remains. This does not mean that there is no need, but rather the
applicant has not demonstrated a site specific need.
Despite Economic Associates’ concern with the lack of detail regarding local demand,
Council has been broadly aware of the need for improved Caravan and RV facilities within
the Noosa Shire and has been actively attempting to address the issue. It recently gave
development approval for a small RV Stop facility west of Cooroy at Holts Road
(MCU14/0060) and has lodged a development application for another RV Stop facility on
community land at 17 Mary River Road (MCU15/0003). Neither provides amenities or
facilities such as those in the proposed tourist park.
Council’s assessment report for the Holts Road RV Stop highlighted the caravan,
motorhome and camping industry is reported to be the fastest growing domestic tourism
sector in Australia and has been for each of the last 10 years (source: Caravan and
Camping Tourism Association of NSW Annual report 2012). Cooroy has no other caravan
park or camping facilities and is unable to capture the broad economic and community
benefits that flow from increased visitation. The need for a “Self Contained RV Overnight
Area” in Cooroy has been identified by the:
       Campervan & Motorhome Club of Australia
       Queensland Drive Tourism Strategy
       Cooroy Chamber of Commerce
The proposed Tourist Park is therefore considered to respond to known need for such
facilities in the Noosa Area.
3.3.2.     Grounds to Support the Application Despite Planning Conflicts
Given the extent of the development’s conflict with planning provisions for the site, it is
crucial that grounds be identified to overcome the conflicts if the development is to be
supported. Section 329 of the Sustainable Planning Act 2009 requires sufficient grounds
must exist to justify a decision, despite a conflict with a relevant instrument. Grounds are
simply defined in the Act as matters of public interest and can be taken to include matters


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