The owners of Noosa Springs Golf and Spa Resort have made significant changes to their plans for a $50 million five-star boutique hotel in the wake of community concerns.
An entire level has been removed from one of the five proposed hotel buildings, the roof design of four of the buildings has been changed to lower the overall height, 60 extra koala feed trees will be planted on the golf course to provide improved koala habitat, a fourth new tennis court will be built and 48 additional car parking spaces will be provided.
The revised plans have been presented to Noosa Council which is considering a development application to build the new luxury hotel on land occupied by resort tennis courts, a tennis pavilion and an area of waste bushland.
“The changes made are in response to submissions received,” project manager Phil Starkey said.
“The primary change is with respect to the height of four of the buildings,” he said.
“These changes will reduce the visibility and prominence of the built form.
“The proposed development is now far less prominent than the existing Parkridge Noosa apartment complex, which extends above the tree line and into the skyline,” he said.
“Some of the comments made in submissions were based on incorrect information about the proposal,” Mr Starkey said. “But we appreciate the feedback and we have listened to the views and addressed the concerns.”
The hotel will occupy five separate buildings that are joined and step up the sloping site, minimising earthworks and maximising tree retention.
No building will be higher than three levels, and none will protrude above the existing tree line. The buildings will generally present as two levels from most vantage points.
Removing the top level of Building 2 reduces the number of hotel suites by six.
Instead, a viewing deck will be built on the top level, from which guests will enjoy spectacular views of the golf course and surrounds.
Resort owners GH Properties engaged environment consultant Gondwana Ecology to consider issues raised about the impact of the development on koala habitat.
The inquiries showed the development would have a negligible impact on koalas, and there was no evidence that the 19 koala feed trees that would need to be replaced were ever used by koalas.
However, the owners were prepared to provide an environmental offset for the 19 trees and agreed to plant 60 new koala feed trees on the golf course in an area frequented by koalas, enhancing the existing environment for the endangered animals.
Following concerns about car parking, the owners engaged traffic consultancy Traffic and Transport Plus, who conducted surveys in January and February which showed onsite parking was currently significantly under-utilised, and was ‘more than adequate’ for the proposed development.
Despite this advice, GH Properties will provide another carpark with a further 48 spaces.
The owners sought independent advice from consultants in respect of bushfire risk and mitigation and have agreed to implement a new Emergency Response Plan, and add a 5m wide turfed area for improved bushfire separation to bushland to the east.
The proposed boutique hotel, occupying an area of 3640sqm, will integrate with the existing resort facilities, providing economies of scale and efficient use of land and existing infrastructure.
At the same time as the hotel is being built, existing resort facilities – including the restaurant, kitchen, bar and meeting rooms – would be renovated and enlarged to accommodate hotel guests, and for the use of resort members and residents.
