Cooroy Area Residents Association (CARA) president Rod Ritchie sums up the year in Cooroy.
Cooroy continues to attract development. The retailer, Woolworths, which purchased the Myall Street property opposite the Cooroy Golf Club, has lodged a development application with council, which is currently being assessed. A car wash, to be located in Elm Street, was approved in August. The innovative coffee and local produce outlet at Black Mountain, Busstop Espresso, was closed by Council due to planning issues, but is operating now from Eden Hospital.
CARA recently met with Australian renewable energy developer, Enervest, to find out about their proposed Cooroy BESS (Battery Energy Storage System) project planned for vacant land next to the existing Cooroy substation off Nandroya Road.
CARA led community consultation for the new Cooroy Police Station, and was pleased to attend the official opening of this important new community asset in July. More recently, the town was fortunate to have Cooroy Radiology established in the Daddows building.
Mark Sexton agreed to represent CARA on the working group for the Noosa Botanic Gardens Masterplan. We look forward to Phase 2 of community engagement on the draft master plan in February 2025.
GemLife appeal: On 30 May 2024, Judge Kefford delivered her judgement in the Brisbane Planning and Environment Court, and upheld Noosa Council’s March 2021 decision to refuse a GemLife development application for a multiple housing development, to be located next to the Cooroy Golf Club. The appeal was dismissed, and GemLife’s development application was refused. The Council thanked CARA for its participation in the appeal.
An affordable social housing project has been proposed for council-owned land at 62 Lake Macdonald Drive. The subdivision of this property is subject to configuration for a lot application and operational works, which will include remediation works for the former waste refuse site. The subdivision will result in the property being divided into 3 lots. A Coast2Bay housing development for Lot 1 is yet to be submitted for approval. Future uses of the remaining 2 lots will consider investigating options including open space, cultural heritage, housing, community uses, landscape and amenity and other land planning matters. Council will ensure that this process involves community consultation.
The CARA Facebook page, Cooroy Community Noticeboard, has grown from around 20,000 members this time last year to over 27,000 this year. The page is a great communication tool, feedback source, and a way of keeping our residents up-to-date with the latest planning applications, local events, council information, employment, and even information on exercise classes, lost pets, car accidents, and the best tradies.
At the last state election, local member Rob Skelton lost the electorate of Nicklin to our former member, Marty Hunt. We look forward to working again with Marty, as well as Noosa electorate MP, Sandy Bolton who represents many Cooroy residents.
On 6 June, our treasurer, Jennifer Sadler, received a Queensland Day award for her volunteer works delivering a comprehensive monthly community newsletter to the Forest Acres community and beyond, as well as holding the position of treasurer of CARA, both for many years. Congratulations Jennifer!
And finally, thanks to our management committee and ordinary members, and to our local councillors for their support.
