Community organisation Friends of Yaroomba (FOY) is powering ahead with a new Save Yaroomba fundraising campaign for the upcoming Supreme Court appeal hearing.
A new spokesperson has been appointed, an international standard video produced, and a GoFundMe page established for donations.
FOY president, Daryl Maudsley, said his organisation is pleased to announce that Kathryn Hyman is the new spokesperson for the Save Yaroomba campaign.
“Kathryn spearheaded the recent Twin Waters West win and we are excited to have her on board as we tackle a whole new world of online fundraising due to Covid19 restrictions on our well-oiled event team,” he said.
“Kathryn will elevate our campaign to a new level. She has an excellent track record already in galvanising community support and we welcome her energy and experience.
“I want to publicly acknowledge the huge contribution that Julie Failor has made over many years. She has been the catalyst for a wonderful beachside community to find its voice and extend the reach of its message to the entire Sunshine Coast and beyond.
“We are very glad that Julie will continue to assist our Save Yaroomba fundraising campaign from behind the front line.”
New spokesperson Kathryn Hyman said that 9000 written objections do matter and should be taken seriously by the three very experienced judges in the Supreme Court.
“Development Watch does not waste its time on frivolous cases and their legal advice is that they have a chance of winning and should go for it.”
Ms Hyman said there was a decades long chronology and history behind this development proposal. “Drafting the new planning scheme involved significant community consultation in 2014 to the tune of $15 million. This is a statutory, heavily resourced document. To simply ignore it is a flagrant misuse of ratepayer funds causing angst and a burden for the community and Council staff alike.”
The funds raised by FOY will help pay the legal costs to prepare the case for a Supreme Court appeal by Development Watch against the Sekisui development which includes several high-rise buildings and a high-density population. The development was approved by Sunshine Coast Council and overrides the existing Town Plan.
Ms Hyman said legal teams don’t come cheaply. “Donations are essential, and this is where Friends of Yaroomba is supporting the significant efforts of Development Watch,” she said.
”If Sekisui wins the Appeal it will be a landmark decision that will be used as a legal case reference to overturn the Town Plan up and down the Coast. Imagine the beautiful old Coolum Hyatt property, now owned by Clive Palmer, covered in seven storey apartment buildings, or even higher.”
The FOY team has ramped up its online presence with a GoFundMe platform to make donating easy. New merchandise is being prepared for sale and new events are in the pipeline. All contributions go directly to help cover legal costs.
The date of the Supreme Court Appeal hearing is yet to be announced. To view the new Friends of Yaroomba video or donate go to www.gofundme.com and search for Yaroomba.
