Further submission from applicant 13.10.2023

 

As you are no doubt aware my family sold our interests in Noosa Springs in 2014 to GH
Properties. I am delighted to say, GH properties has shared our vision for the resort by
maintaining it to high standards and seeking to complete our original vision for the project. It
is their application that Noosa Council is now considering, and I believe what they are
seeking is the final element of that very masterplan that your predecessors understood and
approved nearly 30 years ago. You will notice GH is not seeking to construct a 200-room
hotel, as earlier approved, but a much smaller boutique hotel. It comprises only 106 rooms
and designed to meld tastefully and unobtrusively into the natural environment.

My son Philip who worked closely with me to create Noosa Springs all those years ago is the
project manager of the proposed hotel and has consulted with me over various aspects of the
design. We always envisaged a full-service, luxury hotel to accommodate short-term visitors
and I believe the proposed development would achieve that goal. It promises to be a low-rise,
beautifully appointed facility that will become a showpiece of tourism infrastructure for our
region.

I am aware that after two years of consultation many changes to the concept were made to the
proposal and was recommended for approval by Noosa Council’s own planning staff and
expert consultants. I was told that during the deliberations by Councillors, staff were asked
whether the design had been peer reviewed by a local architect. I have been involved in
several aspects of the design and I fully support the architecture, which strives to be
compatible with the character of the clubhouse buildings and design principles we established
for Noosa Springs.

I urge Councillors to approve the development of this boutique hotel and bring to fruition the
original masterplan concept.

Yours Faithfully
StarCo Developments Pty Ltd

A. ER -

Alan Starkey
Managing Director

Cc: GH Australia (Ellen Guan)