Ministerial Statement: Minister calls in Sunshine Coast development

[ozbob]

Deputy Premier and Attorney-General, Minister for Local Government and Special Minister of State
The Honourable Paul Lucas
17/09/2011

Minister calls in Sunshine Coast development

Local Government Minister Paul Lucas last night called in a mixed residential proposal in Sippy Downs on the Sunshine Coast.

Mr Lucas said the project, which was being proposed by Woolworths, was potentially worth $117 million and would support 900 jobs on the Sunshine Coast.

Mr Lucas was hopeful that Woolworths and the Sunshine Coast Regional Council would continue to work together towards a resolution.

"This is an important project for the Sunshine Coast potentially worth $117 million and 900 jobs," Mr Lucas said.

"I want to make it absolutely clear that the calling in does not take away the ability for the Council and the proponent to continue to talk to each other and advise me of the outcome

"Neither party should assume that the decision will be made in a way that satisfies them.

"Through further discussions between the parties, I hope a resolution can be arrived at."

[Stillwater]

Coles and Woolies are battling it out to get new supermarkets into Sippy Downs, near the University of the Sunshine Coast.  The council wants the grocery retailers to build student residential units as a condition of each retailer's development proposals.  Woolies is prepared to build only 24 units initially, council wants more, big donnybrook, state steps in.

http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2011/06/23/council-and-woolworths-head-to-court-sippy-downs/

http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2011/07/22/coles-to-sell-units-too-sippy-downs/