By Jolene Ogle
A RECOMMENDATION to allow the lifestyle centre Acres to employ a broader range of uses on site could pave the way for a new age of innovative retail in Noosa.
The Acres lifestyle centre sits on an acre block on the edge of a zoned residential area and developer Ralph Rogers has been in a long-term battle with council planning staff over breaches to the approval, which he blames on an out-dated town plan.
A report presented to the Planning and Organisation Committee on Tuesday 11 October explains how Mr Rogers has applied for greater flexibility in how space is used within the site.
“The intent of the proposal is to allow greater flexibility of uses than previously approved,” the report said.
“The application arose following council development compliance action. Some tenants within the centre, such as a dress shop, expanded cafe and other proposed tenants, did not accord with the approval given.
“Following meetings with the applicant (Mr Rogers) it agreed to seek a new approval involving a broader range of issues.”
Mayor Tony Wellington said there are two issues competing while considering whether to approve Mr Rogers’ proposal.
“I know we would all like to see a development such as this succeed,” he said.
“The other is (that) it’s a shame there wasn’t due diligence done at the outset to ensure the zoning was appropriate to the development.
“Therefore, we have, to some extent, respect the immediate neighbours to the development who, when the (space) was a nursery … wouldn’t expect to have a restaurant operating on their doorstep and therefore operating into the evening.”
Councillor Brian Stockwell said Acres should be congratulated for its collaborative approach to development, negotiating with the community to ensure a community-supported development was built.
“This is a prototype for a type of development that I think we will be encouraging in the future,” he said.
“This development actually negotiated with the community to come up with a form of development that was supported locally.
“I think that’s really important to say the development has the majority support of those people around it.”
Councillors are expected to approve the changes to Mr Rogers’ original development approval at tonight’s (Thursday) ordinary meeting.
