By JONATHON HOWARD
SEKISUI House is reporting “largely positive feedback” from residents over its proposed Yaroomba development following initial community consultations.
Many residents are positive about the prospect of new income and a stimulating of the local economy.
Meanwhile, those opposed, largely those who live near the proposed site in Yaroomba, are still actively campaigning against the development.
The Japanese developer will now host additional community engagement sessions this week at Maleny and Nambour to gather feedback on preliminary plans for a proposed development on its 20 hectare beachside land holding at Yaroomba.
Evan Aldridge Senior Development manager Sekisui House said the company had scheduled the two additional sessions at the request of Sunshine Coast Council.
“In the course of this round of community engagement, we have met with hundreds of community members at sessions all across the coast, from Coolum to Caloundra,” Mr Aldridge said.
“We have also conducted stakeholder briefings with community and business groups, and Sunshine Coast Council.
“At a recent meeting, councillors requested that we ensure the views of the hinterland were also included, so we have scheduled two further sessions this week. This was a valid request,” he said.
“Once we have completed this round of community engagement we will be in a position to provide a report to council by the end of the year.
“We welcome the decision of council to defer the meeting to consider amendments to the planning scheme.
“This will give us time not only to provide council with the feedback received, but also to explain any changes to the proposal.
“To date the feedback from many Sunshine Coast residents has been positive with support for the proposal, particularly around a tourism and residential development that will provide future jobs and economic benefits to the community.
“There is also local feedback centred on the issue of height – predominantly related to visual impact and traffic concerns.
“According to a June 2014 economic report from the University of the Sunshine Coast, micro, small and medium enterprises comprise 96 per cent of greater Sunshine Coast businesses.
“A lot of people we have spoken to recognise that many of these businesses would benefit from the economic growth that would occur from this investment in tourism and a variety of forms of accommodation.”
The proposed plans for the site include an internationally branded five star hotel, which would be the first developed on the Sunshine Coast for over 25 years.
Other uses include residential and aged-care facilities, retail and public precinct. If approved, development would be staged over a period of 12 years.
“This will be a world-class precinct which will give a major boost to tourism and investment into the Sunshine Coast as well as provide future opportunities for the next generation.” Mr Aldridge said.
Economic studies indicate that if the project were to go ahead, 4500 construction jobs would be created during the development, and more than 620 permanent local jobs would be created. The flow on effect for the community would be an additional 1500 jobs created, and inject $73 million tourism dollars every year for the Sunshine Coast region if a five star hotel of that size were to go ahead.
