Ministerial Statement: Minister gives the green light to Sippy Downs development

[ozbob]

Attorney-General, Minister for Local Government and Special Minister of State
The Honourable Paul Lucas
13/01/2012

Minister gives the green light to Sippy Downs development

Minister for Local Government and Planning Paul Lucas today approved a development application allowing Woolworths to develop the Sippy Downs Town Centre.

The mixed-use development will include a shopping complex with retail and commercial spaces, and 201 residential units.

Mr Lucas said the conditional approval followed his decision in September to call in and reassess the development.

"I'm pleased to announce the Sippy Downs Town Centre vision will be achieved," Mr Lucas said.

"The number of units is now an appropriate compromise between what Woolworths wanted and what Council wanted.

"What we have is a result that is a better outcome for the project with the 201 residential units being an appropriate level to satisfy community need.

"Importantly, this number is based on expert economic research commissioned by the State Government and negotiation between Woolworths and council.

"Woolworths original application was for 24 to be delivered in the first stage but this approval requires 60, bringing more housing supply to the Sunshine Coast sooner.

"After reassessment and several months of negotiations with SCRC and Woolworths, I've given the development the green light.

"It is only through extensive co-operation of Council and Woolworths that we've been able to come to a good outcome for the Sunshine Coast and avoid any lengthy court battles.

"We're also seeing Woolworths put its money where its mouth is by investing $10 million in infrastructure to ensure that residential units can be built above the retail space in future stages without disrupting trading."

The negotiations on the design of the development have resulted in improved residential amenity and a commercial frontage along Stringybark Road.

Mr Lucas said the project would bring significant benefits to the region creating about 900 ongoing jobs and 600 construction jobs.

"This develo pment will provide the residents of the Sunshine Coast with another major shopping centre which Woolworths is expecting to turnover around $117 million in its first year of operation," Mr Lucas said.

"A town centre is a critical element in achieving the intended role of Sippy Downs as a major regional activity centre in the South East Queensland Regional Plan 2009-2031.

"It will also encourage future growth of the area and act as an accelerator for other developments."

Mr Lucas said call-in powers were available to the Minister responsible for planning under the Sustainable Planning Act 2009 and allows the Minister, as the assessment manager, to decide on a development application if it involved a state interest.

"Calling in the development ensured we didn't see a long, drawn out argument in an appeals court, and we can now look forward to development plans getting underway," Mr Lucas said.

"The government treats call ins very seriousl y and during my two terms as the responsible minister, I have been involved in 12 call ins of which eight have been decided.

"Of the eight decided call ins, five were refused and three were approved.

"All of those cases were in favour of the council technical recommendation, I have never turned a council refusal on technical grounds into an approval."

The Minister's decision cannot be appealed in the Planning and Environment Court.

[Fares_Fair]

It would have been good if Caloundra South had received the same detailed explanation as this development.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.