Noosa Council says No to second Peregian Beach shopping centre

Noosa Council has decided to oppose plans for a second shopping centre on the site of the old Peregian Beach Bowls club.

The council has decided that the Development Application along Rufous Street in Peregian Beach is against the overall aims of the Noosa Plan and would remove land intended for open space recreation.

The council has also agreed the application would effectively create a second shopping centre at Peregian Beach, likely to hurt the businesses in the village square and presenting "a poor, unappealing urban design outcome."

The council was required to make its decision known in order to defend an appeal by the developer.

A staff report to the Sunshine Coast Council in mid-November also recommended against the application on similar grounds.

The developer decided not to wait for the council's formal decision, and launched an appeal in court against a  'deemed refusal' , rather than agreeing to give the Council a few more days to consider the matter.

Council today decided to defend the appeal, after an assessment that says the development "presents significant conflicts with the Noosa Plan".

The assessment said the development would also have "unacceptable impacts on traffic operations and safety at the intersection of Woodland Drive and David Low Way and it would triple traffic volumes on Rufous Street and have a substantial impact on local residents".

Noosa Council will now advise the Planning and Environment Court of its decision.

20 January 2014