Developer eyes new heights for Sunshine Coast hotel
A developer has submitted plans for a 13-storey hotel and mixed-use development on the Sunshine Coast, potentially taking advantage of a temporary height relaxation in the lead-up to the 2032 Olympics.
Felix Capital's proposal for 153 units, restaurants, a function room, and nine residential units on Ocean Street, Maroochydore, is now in the hands of ministerial approval of a Temporary Local Planning Instrument (TLPI).
Passed by the Sunshine Coast Council on November 21, the TLPI permits an extra seven metres in height, along with parking concessions, for high-end hotels in designated areas.
The 47-metre Ocean Street hotel application currently exceedscurrent limits by seven metres, but was lodged ten days before the TLPI's council approval and after initial hotel incentives were passed.
Planning documents for the Voco hotel development explicitly mention the potential seven-metre height increase offered by the TLPI.
“Once adopted, the proposed development will comply in full with the local government planning provisions for building height on the subject site (47 metres high permitted onsite under the TLPI),” the report says.
Felix Capital director Michael Maroun stated that the company is awaiting the Planning Minister's decision on the TLPI before proceeding. Minister Jarrod Bleijie's approval is required for the TLPI, which would allow for relaxed height and parking restrictions on the proposed development.
“The reason we stopped it is because the TLPI now got approved (by the council) and is awaiting the State Minister to sign it off,” he said.
“Once he does that we are then going to relodge it as code assessable, this way it is all compliant. Just a planning thing.”
A proposed shift in development assessment procedures has sparked debate within the council. The change, which would move certain applications from an "impact assessable" to a "code assessable" category, has raised concerns about public transparency and input.
Under the proposed change, applications deemed "code assessable" would no longer be subject to a public notification period or require formal submissions from the community. This streamlined process, while potentially expediting development approvals, has prompted questions about the potential for reduced community involvement in shaping the city's landscape.
Councillor Taylor Bunnag brought the issue to the forefront during the November 21 council meeting, highlighting the significant differences between "code assessable" and "impact assessable" applications. Using a hypothetical hotel application as an example, Councillor Bunnag demonstrated how the assessment process, and the level of public input, would vary drastically under the two categories.
The council is currently deliberating on the proposed changes, with a decision expected to have significant implications for future development projects in the city.
“We’ve got two potential developments across the road from each other. One would be code assessable, in that you wouldn’t be able to have any appeal rights as a resident, and then across the road one would be impact accessible and you would be able to have your appeal rights and have your say formally. Is that an accurate description of what the situation might be like?” he asked of planning amendment coordinator Roma Stevenson.
“Yes, that’s correct,” Stevenson said.
Cr Bunnag who is against the TPI said residents should have a say on developments that had an impact on the character and amenity of the area.
“For me, that’s the kicker. Giving people not only the opportunity to have their say or to exercise their appeal rights on developments in their area is of critical importance to my community and a principle I’ll be upholding,” he said.
Jonathan Jackson, 20th January 2024
