Govt. won't bend for Titanium's $400m. resort

THE Queensland Government has rejected Titanium Enterprises' application to develop a $400 million tourism resort on the Sunshine Coast.

Deputy Premier and Infrastructure Minister Anna Bligh said the Edge Noosa development planned for the Sunshine Coast hamlet of Kin Kin, had been rejected on several grounds, primarily because it was planned for rural land outside the SEQ Regional Plan’s Urban Footprint.

The SEQ Regional Plan sets out areas in which major developments can occur, while earmarking other areas where rural land – and the lifestyle of its residents – will be preserved.

The Minister said the large-scale development proposed by Titanium Enterprises also contravened Noosa Shire Council planning guidelines, despite this, the council approved the application in February this year.

Titanium had earmarked to develop the 517 hectare site to include a Raffles 100-room hotel, 219 cottages and villas, an 18-hole Greg Norman-designed golf course, equestrian centre, conference and function facilities, a cooking school and a restaurant.

But Minister Bligh said the proposal is in direct conflict with the SEQ Regional Plan – “the safeguard for our region,”

“In the Noosa hinterland, the plan allows for smaller scale tourism facilities such as farmstays and bed-and-breakfasts. The region just doesn’t have the infrastructure to support a development of this size. For example, on peak days the developer estimates almost 3000 people could be on site,” Bligh said. “This is a decision I take reluctantly but it should serve as a line in the sand for developers – the Beattie Government is serious about the SEQ Regional plan.”

Bligh called in the development as a matter of State Interest on April 17 to head off a costly court battle between the Noosa council and the developers.

The development application has been the subject of deliberation by numerous agencies since it was lodged in November 2005.

In October last year, the Coordinator-General used powers under the Integrated Planning Act to direct Noosa Shire Council to refuse the application because it did not comply with the SEQ Regional Plan.

NSC refused the application, citing reasons including that the application was in conflict with their own planning scheme.

Titanium Enterprises then lodged an appeal with the Planning and Environment Court on March 5, which sparked the State Government call-in.

Australian Property Journal