Margie Maccoll
On Monday 21 March when Uniting Care authorised the clearing of Lot 6 Grasstree Court, Sunrise Beach for an aged care and retirement facility, the organisation’s property representatives met with Noosa councillors to discuss a request to extend the approval time on their development.
As the excavators tore down the wallum habitat, distressed protestors looked on, concerned for the plight of Glossy Black Cockatoos, listed as endangered by the Federal Government, who feed and bring their young to the Sunrise Beach site.
Three days later, Uniting Care lodged a Material Change of Use application to extend the commencement of use to 19 December 2024 and work completion to 19 December 2028.
Their requested two-year extension has been combined with a state government granting of two six month approval extensions provided to all developments due to Covid, adding up to a three-year extension.
As the “currency period“ is a condition of approval of the development, the Material Change Use request will need to be considered and approved by Noosa Council in order to proceed.
In its extension application, UnitingCare, the health and community arm of the Uniting Church of Australia – Queensland Synod, states delays in project delivery were due to a variety of factors resulting from their response to market conditions, community expectation, environmental considerations and design changes in response to Covid and the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.
“Each of these factors create challenges in terms of internal design, operation and staffing, which in turn influence the ultimate building design. Despite these challenges, Blue Care has remained committed to development of the site, as evidenced by the range of enabling works which have been completed or are ongoing,“ the application says.
“Blue Care has undertaken necessary road reconfiguration works to prepare Lot 6 for construction, cleared Lot 6 of vegetation, and employed land rehabilitation personnel to prepare the three-hectare rehabilitation site in Girraween Nature Refuge to accept delivery of topsoil from Lot 6. The total investment to date is approximately $6 million.
“Blue Care continues to work with Noosa Shire Council, the Traditional Owners of the land and members of the local community regarding development of the Sunrise Beach aged care and retirement living precinct.“
Under the current approval of a staged development, clearing of Lot 9 to accommodate a proposed retirement village is scheduled to occur after completion of clearing and commencement of construction of the residential aged care home on Lot 6 of Grasstree Court.
The Material Change of Use application can be viewed on Noosa Council’s e-property site under the reference number 132008.1128.05
Glossy Team Sunrise is urging residents to send submissions to Noosa Council. For more view, their Facebook site.
