By JONATHON HOWARD
NOOSA Council has made a successful bid to buy the Peregian Beach Bowls Club following 12 months of fears the site could have become a shopping precinct.
This month marks a year since Multi Span Australia unsuccessfully applied to Noosa Council to develop the former Peregian Beach Bowls Club land.
Noosa Council denied the application on the grounds that the property was zoned for “open space recreational use”, although the applicant subsequently appealed the council’s ruling in the Planning and Environment Court. The court upheld the council’s refusal of the application.
Noosa Council has now signed a historic contract to buy the former Peregian Beach Bowls Club site for $750,000.
Mayor Noel Playford said the acquisition was a win for the local community.
Current owner, Pine Rivers Memorial Bowls Club, has accepted the council’s offer to buy the vacant 6500 square metre Rufous Street property.
“The council’s investment in this land represents a great outcome for the Peregian community, which has voiced concerns about the types of development previously proposed for the site,” Cr Playford said.
“Once the site transfers to the council we will work with the Peregian community to determine a use for the site that will provide the greatest benefit to the local area.”
Members of the Peregian Beach Community Association, who played an integral part in the court case, are celebrating what they see as a win for the local community.
Association vice-president Barry Cotterell said the community was delighted with the council’s purchase of the bowls club and he said it was important to keep as much recreational space in Peregian as possible.
“It was important that the council own this land, rather than a private investor who may have looked at developing the site in the future,” he said.
“It is important that it continue to be used as recreational space, a commodity which is in short supply in Peregian Beach.”
Mr Cotterell said the win was the result of council and community working together to achieve the best local outcome.
“It really has been a council and community co-operative effort – because it was the association that suggested to the council that the council should not allow the roundabout the development,” he said.
“This later led to denial of the roundabout and further they would not allow traffic lights – the subsequent action of council resulted in the applicant withdrawing the application.”
