PM Submission - Robert & Jennifer Brooks - MCU21/0110

Subject: Development Application - Noosa Springs Hotel
From: Robert Brooks
Date: 2021-12-01T06:07:11+00:00
To: Mailbox Council Mail

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As a Parkridge residents we have become aware of the subject matter which relates to the construction of an 112 unit hotel in Noosa Springs on land where the tennis courts and related car park are currently situated.  My wife and I are not against development per se but in this case we have three major concerns.

1/ Traffic Flow and Car Parking

At the presentation by the architect of the proposed hotel a year ago it was indicated that the guests of the hotel would largely be bused in from the airport causing minimal extra traffic in the area.  This statement appeared delusional and gave little credibility to the reality of the situation.  We would say most of the hotel guests will come by car one way or the other.  These cars will include personal vehicles, taxies, Ubers and the like.  Also we would argue the majority of the hotel’s guests will be sourced out of Brisbane and not interstate through the airport. These Brisbane visitors coming to conferences, functions and playing golf, will no doubt drive.  Also the hotel will need to be serviced by trucks delivering food, drink, laundry and an assortment of essential items required by such a business.  Staffing of the hotel involving the comings and goings of its employees at different hours, dependent on their shifts, will involve additional vehicular traffic as well.

It is apparent that the current road structure in and around the hotel site is, at best, problematic and not capable of handling the significantly increased traffic flow resulting from this new building.  Accordingly, in the first instance, we strongly object to the development on this basis as traffic generated during the construction period and thereafter, upon completion, will cause mayhem and effect the safety of both the Parkridge and Noosa Springs residents.

Another issue is parking.  Where are all the construction vehicles going to be accommodated during the development period?  It may be contended offsite but during the latest construction phase at Parkridge you had any number of contractors attempting to park in and around the complex. Heavy construction vehicles such as concrete mixers are another issue. Because the hotel is being built into the hill to allow for the three levels, we understand there will be limited car parking provided underneath the structure.  The question then arises where will the vehicles relating to hotel guests, possibly their guests and other visitors, existing golfers, together with attendees at the Noosa Springs clubhouse facility, be parked. Parking in the surrounding narrow streets like Resort Drive will lead to mayhem and safety issues which can arise, even now, when people access the Noosa Springs gym and pool from Resort Drive.

2/ Noise

The proposed hotel and its facilities including the pool will generate additional noise which will no doubt effect the living conditions of Parkridge residents in accommodation buildings adjacent to the hotel site.  At present the Noosa Springs gym and function rooms can be noisey at times.  However these structures were in place prior to Parkridge being built so we are prepared to live with these distractions.  However a newly approved and built fully functioning hotel operating 24/7 is another matter. We can imagine how our peaceful existence may be impacted, and it will be, if the hotel is allowed to go ahead. Noise carries and especially where the source is at a lower level to those effected on the higher ground at Parkridge.  Also it is not clear as to the boundary setoffs that the hotel building will be allowed. The destruction of trees along Resort Drive will expose Parkridge residents to hotel rooms particularly on the third level which will create the possibility of additional noise being generated from the room and balcony.

3/ Fire

Another concern which exists at present and will no doubt be enhanced by the hotel development are escape routes in the case of fire. The surrounds of Parkridge, Noosa Springs and Elysium are heavily treed and given the impact of climate change there is an ever present fear of fire in this area. Parkridge abuts both the National Park and the Council owned nature reserve, both of which could become highly combustible given the possibility of very dry weather and prevailing winds. The onset of such weather is predicted to increase significantly in future years. The question then arises how do you exit an area like ours in extreme fire conditions.  Noosa Springs Drive is virtually a dead end for these communities therefore it is not hard to imagine what would happen if we had a Peregian type fire storm in this area.

A new hotel with 112 rooms and upward of 200 plus guests together with their vehicles would compound this dangerous position still further as all these people are concentrated into a very small area. In terms of the entry of emergency vehicles and the exit of residents together with hotel guests one could imagine the chaos and the end result.  The situation needs to be addressed now by Council without the addition of a hotel and all that it entails. Surely the safety of these communities that Council has previously approved should come before the approval and construction of a new facility which will only compound the existing problem.

Based on these three criteria we object strongly against the construction of the hotel and implore Council to deny the development approval. The previous development of the Noosa Springs, Elysium and Parkridge estates may have been allowed to proceed with a single road access however this time around Council has a responsibility to say enough is enough and try to protect the interests of the existing residents.

Yours Faithfully

Jennifer and Robert Brooks

Unit 1532 Parkridge