Caloundra South

[ozbob]

Deputy Premier and Attorney-General, Minister for Local Government and Special Minister of State
The Honourable Paul Lucas
07/09/2011

Bellvista 2 approval means housing affordability for the Sunshine Coast

Work on more than 700 residential lots to provide good quality affordable homes for up to 1500 people on the Sunshine Coast will be underway by the end of the month.

Deputy Premier and Local Government Minister Paul Lucas today announced that the Urban Land Development Authority had approved two development applications at Bellvista 2 as part of the Caloundra South UDA with early works expected to begin shortly.

Mr Lucas said the Sunshine Coast was experiencing housing pressures and Bellvista two would bring more supply to the tight Sunshine Coast property market.

"The Sunshine Coast isn't only a great place to holiday, it's also a great place to live," Mr Lucas said.

"More and more people are recognising that and that's why projects like the Caloundra South UDA are important.

"The approval of these development applications at Bellvista 2 will help ease pressures being exerted on the property market on the Sunshine Coast and 25% of houses across Caloundra South will provide for people on low to moderate incomes.

"Large scale projects such as this will provide longer term prospects of sustainable employment with the entire Caloundra South project expected to support more than 15,000 jobs."

ULDA CEO Paul Eagles said the development at Bellvista 2 will be undertaken by Stockland and deliver 708 residential lots across more than 90 hectares.

"Development in Bellvista 2 was identified for early release in the Interim Land Use Plan to bring on more affordable housing within the UDA sooner," Mr Eagles said.

"Feedback from the community about the development schemes for the Caloundra South UDA during the public consultation process has been considered in the approval by the ULDA of the Bellvista 2 development applications.

"As part of the approval process, the development applications were also referred to key stakeholders including the Sunshine Coast Regional Council, the D epartment of Transport and Main Roads, the Department of Environment and Resource Management and Unity Water for their input."

The ULDA's approval of Bellvista 2 also provides for an upgrade of the Caloundra Road/Bellvista Boulevard roundabout to cater for traffic expected with the future development.

Traffic generation reviews by independent consultants concluded that widening Bellvista Boulevard to four lanes is not necessary at this point in time, and instead will include a left hand slip lane for traffic exiting Bellvista Boulevard onto Caloundra Road to manage the traffic flow.

The submitted Caloundra South UDA Development Scheme recognises the need to upgrade Bellvista Boulevard from 2 lanes to 4 lanes in the future to support traffic demands in Caloundra South.

Development near the aerodrome was also a discussion point during the consultation process and one of the approved development applications is for lots near that site.

Th e Sunshine Coast Airport Corporation was consulted during the planning stages of the UDA and information provided by the corporation has been factored into the approval for these development applications.

"I want to assure the community that greater noise attenuation measures are in place for affected sites in Bellvista 2 than previously in the region," Mr Eagles said.

"Affected homes must be attenuated to 80 decibels during construction through building techniques such as double glazing and insulation.

"Potential buyers must be made aware of potential noise during the purchasing process and a statement detailing the noise issue will also be included in the contract of sale for sites in affected areas."

The Caloundra South Urban Development Area (UDA) was declared 22 October 2010 and covers 2,360 hectares.

Approval for Bellvista 2 has been achieved in less than 12 months.

==============================================================

[SurfRail]

Public transport?

Funny how headworks charges never seem to include this.

[Stillwater]

This estate is next to Caloundra Airport.  You won't be able to think for the drone of light aircraft, students doing 'touch and go' and helicopters.  Everyone will have to learn to lip read in order to watch the TV.  Affordable housing, yeah.  The land is affordable right next door to Archerfield too.

[Arnz]

Public transport?

Funny how headworks charges never seem to include this.

My bets is that it would simply be a extended 603  , possibly with extended trading hours till 8pm.

The 603 is a hourly 'milk run' route that winds and bends into the local suburbs (Caloundra West, Meridan Plains, Little Mountain, etc).

[Stillwater]

Another slap in the face from the state government?  Affaordable housing?  And pigs will fly!
http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2011/09/14/promises-are-cheap-affordable-housing-caloundra/

[ozbob]

SunshineCoast Daily --> Housing decision upsets mayor

[Stillwater]

Stockland, the developer, bought the land and the only thing the council planners would allow beneath the flight path was industrial land, and only then on a limited area.  Stockland, which is the biggest developer with dormant land on the Coast, complained to the state government, which called in the project and approved residential land on the basis of providing 'affordable housing', except the land is now more expensive than plots available elsewhere on the Coast.  Imagine living 100m from Archerfield runway.  Bellavista 2 homeowners will have to live indoors with airconditioners and double-glazed windows.  Windows will have to be shut during the day.

I can't help but think this is all part of the state government- council game that flows from the undertaking the state made to find a new location for a combined Caloundra-Caboolture airport around Wild Horse Mountain.  It never happened.  Caloundra airport generates a lot of job in the fields of aircraft maintenance, flying school, etc.  Grant Kenny's helicopter operations are based there.  The state threw the task of finding a new Caloundra airport back to the council, and now it is crowding out this facility with housing estates where people inevitably will complain of noise and inconvenience.  That will be directed to the council, no doubt.

The preferred alignment for CAMCOS has had to be abandoned because the airport site was to have been the location of a new Caloundra bus/train interchange.  CAMCOS reverts back to the old alignment that skirts Stockland's landholding, with the result that more land is available for more 'affordable' housing.

[ozbob]

From the Sunshine Coast Daily click here!

$7500 to keep it quiet

$7500 to keep it quiet

Bill Hoffman | 17th September 2011

PROSPECTIVE Bellvista home-buyers will have to pay $7500 for noise insulation, a further blow to the argument that Caloundra South would deliver affordable housing, says Opposition health spokesman Mark McArdle.

Mr McArdle said his advice was that it would cost at least that amount to shield homes from noise impacts of the adjacent Caloundra Airport with the bill likely to double for two-storey homes.

He attacked the government's housing affordability claims for the development, saying it was never a feasible outcome so close to the Sunshine Coast and its pristine beaches.

It was LNP policy to review the entire development if it won office. He said it would do what was possible but would need to consider legal implications attached to winding back approvals.

"This has always been about dollars for a company driving its own agenda and a government charging stamp duty, not about affordable housing,'' he said.

Mr McArdle said his fear was that a massive dormitory Brisbane suburb would sit at the southern end of the Coast unless linkages were made to industrial jobs and the Coast's University Hospital.

Data in a report commissioned by the Urban Land Development Authority reveals that not only has the State Government's affordable housing strategy left behind the median income earners it promised to help on the Coast, but it will also make owning a home at Caloundra South a difficult proposition.

The ULDA, which has planning control over what will eventually be a development housing 50,000 people, commissioned Urbis to report into affordability outcomes at all its development areas.

The government originally promised that 30% of Caloundra South would be affordable to buy or rent by people on median incomes for Caloundra (about $50,000).

However, the Urbis report, which measured anticipated affordability outcomes for Bellvista stage two, found that only 5% would be affordable to buy by households on $60,000 a year and only if they could save a $13,190 deposit and interest rates stayed below 7.78%, they were first home buyers and the $7000 government grant was still available.

Renters would need to have at least that household income to be able to rent 20% of available stock.

Sunshine Coast Council said yesterday it had yet to receive details of the infrastructure charging regime established by the ULDA and what if any future financial implications would result for ratepayers.

Major projects manager Ron Piper said council had yet to see detail of the infrastructure charges for Bellvista stage two beyond the fact a charge of $6,215,278 reduced by credits of $4,298,848 was a condition of approval of the first eight stages.

[ozbob]

Attorney-General, Minister for Local Government and Special Minister of State
The Honourable Paul Lucas
05/10/2011

Council decision clears way for Caloundra South project

Sunshine Coast Regional Council (SCRC) has today discontinued its Supreme Court action against the Caloundra South Urban Development Area (UDA) declaration.

Minister for Local Government Paul Lucas said he had been approached by SCRC Mayor Cr Bob Abbot to end the court proceedings in the interests of the region.

"Cr Abbot has advised his council wants to discontinue the judicial review now the Urban Land Development Authority has approved a major project in the UDA," Mr Lucas said.

This decision has been welcomed by the State Government as the project will support local jobs and housing affordability.

The 2310 hectare site could cater for up to 50,000 residents and 20,000 new homes as it is developed in the coming 30 years and is expected to support more than 15,000 jobs.

"The ULDA approved an application by Stockland for the former Bellvista 2 site, now known as Bells Reach, in early September and Stockland has already commenced works.

"Given the substantial investment Stockland is making they sought certainty from SCRC that Bells Reach would not be impacted by the judicial review."

Mayor Bob Abbot said there had been a significant change in the circumstances surrounding the Supreme Court judicial review process since it was first initiated by Council.

"Council could not legally agree to Stockland's request without withdrawing entirely from the judicial review process," Cr Abbot said.

"After considerable deliberation council decided that, given that approvals had already been issued and work was now underway on site, it was sensible and in the public interest to discontinue the judicial review proceedings for the Caloundra South development.

"Council will continue to work with the ULDA and Stockland to ensure best possible planning outcomes and long-term community benefits would be achieved through the development of Caloundra South."

Mr Lucas said the State Government and the ULDA would work as closely as possible with SCRC on the planning and delivery of infrastructure for Caloundra South.

"We acknowledge the challenges in developing this sustainable new community will be the timely delivery and integration of infrastructure through the ULDA," Mr Lucas said.

"Extensive consultation will be held with the council to discuss key early catalyst infrastructure that will provide the best return to the community.

"Such infrastructure will include roads, schools, parks and other community facilities that will benefit new residents and the broader Sunshine Coast community.

"As the State Government has previously indicated, the ratepayers of the Sunshine Coast will not be adversely affected financially by the provision of the infrastructure for the Caloundra South UDA, and Stockland must deliver its projects with this outcome in mind."

Mr Lucas said both the state and council share a desire to se e Caloundra South develop in the right way.

"With today's announcement, work will now hasten to finalise the infrastructure funding framework for the UDA," he said.

"I thank the council for its work to date on Caloundra South and look forward to their ongoing involvement."

==============================================================

[ozbob]

Premier and Minister for Reconstruction
The Honourable Anna Bligh
05/10/2011

Premier welcomes council decision on Caloundra South

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh today welcomed the news that the Sunshine Coast Regional Council has discontinued its Supreme Court action against the Caloundra South Urban Development Area.

The Premier said the State Government was committed to working with the Sunshine Coast Regional Council to deliver the Caloundra South development to deliver a sustainable new community for the coast.

"The Sunshine Coast is a rapidly growing area as more people realise that it's not just a great place to holiday but a great place to live. But that also means pressure on the housing market.

"That's why this development is so important.

"The Sunshine Coast has some of the highest housing prices and lowest affordability in Queensland, and this major project will help address these significant challenges.

"At the same time, it will provide a needed boost to the Sunshine Coast economy, delivering some 15,000 jobs during the construction period.

"It will mean more housing supply, more housing choice, and more local jobs.

"Less than 12 months after we put the ULDA in charge of planning, planning for this massive site is almost complete, and 700 early release lots have already been approved," Ms Bligh said.

"Following the ULDA's development approval, the developer has already engaged a local contractor to undertake the earthworks.

"This project will continue delivering jobs now and for the future as it is developed over the next 30 years.

"I thank Bob Abbot and the Sunshine Coast Regional Council for their decision, which has been made in the best interests of the region."

The Premier said the State Government would work with Council to deliver key infrastructure such as roads, schools and parks to support the development.

Ends.

==============================================================

Another car dependent, sustainable transport poor modern day slum ...

[Fares_Fair]

... and no capacity for additional rail services due to a single narrow railway track to the 5th largest growth area in the nation.
And when the construction period is over Premier ?
Where are the jobs then ?

Always there to make the showy announcements but never there for the shoddy outcome.
Nice one.



Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[colinw]

I had to laugh when they spoke about "Catalyst infrastructure".  What exactly is being catalysed here, an unsustainable sprawl and lots of trips in single occupant vehicles perhaps.

The contrast with the Dutch plan that I posted the other day is stark.

[Fares_Fair]

It will mean more 'Anna Bligh' trains (that is, rail buses) because there is no room for REAL trains.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Stillwater]

The irony is that the affordable housing won't be found at Caloundra South, but elsewhere on the Sunshine Coast.

http://www.realestate.com.au/property-duplex+semi+detached-qld-caloundra-108178196
http://www.realestate.com.au/property-duplex+semi+detached-qld-caloundra-108153681
http://www.realestate.com.au/property-duplex+semi+detached-qld-caloundra-107559327
http://www.realestate.com.au/property-duplex+semi+detached-qld-caloundra-107557498

Put aside the bulldust, Stockland just wants to cram as many people into Caloundra South at some of the highest per square metre prices on the Coast.  The jobs for these extra 50,000 people won't be found on the Coast, many will have to travel to Brisbane for work.  A five minute drive away is Landsborough station, where business people are saying that all-day parking is ruining the town. They are about to cop a lot more cars. Landsborough already is the busiest station on the Sunshine Coast Line.  To meet the demands of the extra people, the trade-off will be extension of the dual track to Landsborough (state funded) or extra lanes to the Bruce Highway (federally funded).  No doubt the state will push for a solution that it can foist onto the feds, rather than the more desirable solution that it would be expected to fund. 

[mufreight]

Perhaps the developer should be made to make a meaningful contribution to the track amplification and realignment between Beerburrum and Landsborough.

[Arnz]

Perhaps the developer should be made to make a meaningful contribution to the track amplification and realignment between Beerburrum and Landsborough.

Their private funding should be extended to the "bus" service into Bellvista, imo, on top of their share of funding into the Beerburrum to Landsborough re-alignment and duplication.

(Excuse my pessimism, but they'll probably fund a laughable extension of Route 603 into the new development).

[Stillwater]

Developers should pay for these things, Mufreight.  What happens is that developers contest with councils about such things as kerbing and channelling, stormwater drains etc; they donate the worst bit of land (the swampy bit at the bottom of the hill) as the 'community park' and don't put in street lighting etc and then sell the land for the highest price they can get.  The people who move in then start to lobby the council/state for the community hall, the fire station, the primary school, the additional street lighting etc and the rest of us have a bit more added to our rates to shout the new people up the road the things we enjoy already.  I believe this process is called privatising the profits to the developer while socialising the losses to the general community.

[O_128]

Developers should pay for these things, Mufreight.  What happens is that developers contest with councils about such things as kerbing and channelling, stormwater drains etc; they donate the worst bit of land (the swampy bit at the bottom of the hill) as the 'community park' and don't put in street lighting etc and then sell the land for the highest price they can get.  The people who move in then start to lobby the council/state for the community hall, the fire station, the primary school, the additional street lighting etc and the rest of us have a bit more added to our rates to shout the new people up the road the things we enjoy already.  I believe this process is called privatising the profits to the developer while socialising the losses to the general community.

Its quite pathetic really, You would think that ULDA would be really pushing public transport but nothing is happening, TBH at the prices stock land wants I don't see it selling. No transport , no jobs, no infrastructure, near an airport and to expensive.

[somebody]

Developers should pay for these things, Mufreight.  What happens is that developers contest with councils about such things as kerbing and channelling, stormwater drains etc; they donate the worst bit of land (the swampy bit at the bottom of the hill) as the 'community park' and don't put in street lighting etc and then sell the land for the highest price they can get.  The people who move in then start to lobby the council/state for the community hall, the fire station, the primary school, the additional street lighting etc and the rest of us have a bit more added to our rates to shout the new people up the road the things we enjoy already.  I believe this process is called privatising the profits to the developer while socialising the losses to the general community.

The counter point to this would be that causing developers to pay for these things reduces housing affordability.  Baby boomers didn't have to pay, so is it equitable for the current generation to have to?

Just putting it out there - not saying that I necessarily agree with that view point.

[Stillwater]

The point is that people end up paying in the long-run, so why not provide the community infrastructure from the outset?  There is no such thing as a 'free' community centre or swimming pool.  The argument is whether those who pay for it should be the wider community, or the people who will benefit directly from these things.

It could be argued that including community facilities within the subdivision could be a good marketing tool for the developer.

Town planning provisions should be used to quarantine strips of land for things such as a railway line through new subdivisions.  This reduces the amount of land available for housing, but makes sense in the long-run, as the state government doesn't have to move in after the land has been sold for housing and resume houses for a railway line.  Likewise, the state government should deal with the developer to buy land for a school at pre-development prices, rather than waiting until people petition the government for a school, and the government then having to pay the developed land price for a school site; or paying top dollar to a householder to level their house for a school.

There are pockets on the SC where the council provides new facilities in response to calls from the local community and then charges a differential rate (a surcharge over and above normal rates) to the housing blocks immediately served by that facility.  In the end, people will have to pay.

Right now, the council has told the people of Coolum that they can have a modest spruce-up of their town centre (paid for out of rates collected from across the Coast), but to have the grand scheme the locals envisage, the difference between the higher and lower costs will have to be met from a rates surcharge levied over a number of years.

Having said that, the point is valid that some people want to live on semi-rural lots where they have rainwater tanks, not piped water, an on-site septic system, not sewerage, and graded drains at the side of the road, not concrete gutters.

[ozbob]

From the Sunshine Coast Daily click here!

Abbot laments loss of project

Abbot laments loss of project

Mark Bode | 25th October 2011

SUNSHINE Coast Mayor Bob Abbot admits to feeling an "air of disappointment" after the contentious, massive Caloundra South development was officially green-lighted without Sunshine Coast Council control.

Cr Abbot described the announcement as inevitable.

On Friday, development giant Stockland announced to the stock exchange that the massive residential, commercial and retail project would go ahead.

The announcement was made before the State Government officially acknowledged the decision.

The State Government controversially took control of the project away from the council in October last year after the local authority was accused of dragging its heels.

The decision was condemned by the council and the Queensland Local Government Association.

It was the first time in Queensland that a development had been taken from a council without the council's consent.

"From my perspective, there's obviously an air of disappointment about it (the official announcement)," Cr Abbot said yesterday.

"It was disappointing to lose control of that very large development out of the hands of the community, but we knew it was going to happen."

Despite no longer steering the project, Cr Abbot said he expected that the council would work "very closely" with the government's powerful planning body, the Urban Land Development Authority, on some aspects of Caloundra South.

"Not so much the on-site infrastructure, but the public transport to and from the development and water supply and sewerage issues that have to be dealt with," he said.

"A development of that size does put a considerable impost in the existing community.

"It's our firm belief that shouldn't be all handed on to the ratepayers of the day."

The ULDA is now in charge of the project.

[Set in train]

Bob Abbot has always been a supporter of the ALP. He has hired ALP consultants since late 08 to help his council work with higher levels of govt. I'm not surprised SCRC has ended action in the court against the UDA.

[Stillwater]

It is always interesting to note how documents that the state government endorse are big on the promise, but small on the delivery.  Thus it is so in the case of the Caloundra South Urban Development Area Development Scheme, which the government endorsed in October.

It makes sweeping statements about a sustainable and connected community of 50,000, but when one delves down into the detail, this is the actual reality:

-   (90% of all dwellings should be within 400 metres of a potential public transport service)

-   the delivery of a future rail line which follows the protected corridor and is integrated into the urban fabric.

(from page 13 of the development scheme document)

How can one actually deliver today a future railway line?

So, what is being delivered?  A bus service just an easy walk from new houses?  No, look at what is being said.  There will be a sort of 'virtual reality', or 'potential' transport service made available.

And, as for CAMCOS?  Will it be there?  Yes, eventually.  What's being planned ATM is a 'protected corridor' for an eventual train line linking Beerwah and Maroochydore.  In other words, you will be able to stroll along an embankment, or a foundation where a new train could run and dream about fast transport to Brisbane and the proposed new Maroochydore town centre.

They call the Sunshine Coast the 'land of promise' because it is just that – a promised new public hospital, a promised railway line, duplication to Nambour, a promised bus priority network linking Caloundra and Maroochydore, a proposed new sports stadium.  It is a utopia that inflicts the politician's mind so comprehensively that Minister's cannot conceive reality from fantasy.  Worst still, he/she expects the public to adopt the same detached mindset.

[SurfRail]

It is always interesting to note how documents that the state government endorse are big on the promise, but small on the delivery.  Thus it is so in the case of the Caloundra South Urban Development Area Development Scheme, which the government endorsed in October.

It makes sweeping statements about a sustainable and connected community of 50,000, but when one delves down into the detail, this is the actual reality:

-   (90% of all dwellings should be within 400 metres of a potential public transport service)

-   the delivery of a future rail line which follows the protected corridor and is integrated into the urban fabric.

(from page 13 of the development scheme document)

How can one actually deliver today a future railway line?

So, what is being delivered?  A bus service just an easy walk from new houses?  No, look at what is being said.  There will be a sort of 'virtual reality', or 'potential' transport service made available.

And, as for CAMCOS?  Will it be there?  Yes, eventually.  What's being planned ATM is a 'protected corridor' for an eventual train line linking Beerwah and Maroochydore.  In other words, you will be able to stroll along an embankment, or a foundation where a new train could run and dream about fast transport to Brisbane and the proposed new Maroochydore town centre.

They call the Sunshine Coast the 'land of promise' because it is just that – a promised new public hospital, a promised railway line, duplication to Nambour, a promised bus priority network linking Caloundra and Maroochydore, a proposed new sports stadium.  It is a utopia that inflicts the politician's mind so comprehensively that Minister's cannot conceive reality from fantasy.  Worst still, he/she expects the public to adopt the same detached mindset.

Maybe the locals should try voting ALP and booting out their current members.  Likewise, all the safe Labor seats should turf out the ALP and endorse conservatives.  Obviously the current make-up of the chamber is not helping many people.

[#Metro]

I think it is OK to preserve a corridor. Why can't the build a bus only road in the corridor and make the buses feed into that alighment. It doesn't even need to be fancy - it can be just like a normal road, just for buses with a bike path - the cost would be the same as that for a normal road.

Use signs and road paint to keep out general car traffic.

Doesn't have to be fancy or expensive.

[Mr X]

Currently at the Sunshine Coast in Caloundra and I must say, travelling to Brisbane is an awful experience via PT. I can see why people drive.
I wanted to return to Brisbane for New Year's Day and the journey planner told me the trip would take more than 3 and a half hours and I'd arrive 45mins early for work... 

[Arnz]

Currently at the Sunshine Coast in Caloundra and I must say, travelling to Brisbane is an awful experience via PT. I can see why people drive.
I wanted to return to Brisbane for New Year's Day and the journey planner told me the trip would take more than 3 and a half hours and I'd arrive 45mins early for work... 

Hmm, worst I've seen was 2hr 30 mins from Caloundra to Brisbane, assuming the planner was listing one of the weekend shuttles instead of the expresses.  Depending on what time you're departing.  It's usually just under 2 hrs from Caloundra to Brisbane connecting to a express train.

[Mr X]

According to the planner I am supposed to take the 609, then swap to a 605 to Landsborough (? Can't remember route) then wait for a caboolture all stopper, off at caboolture, wait 1/2 hr then take another all stop train to central and hop onto the bus to my destination.

I didn't bother, I drove.

[HappyTrainGuy]

The planner is the most useless thing translink has provided. And there are some pretty crap bus routes out there 

[Stillwater]

Welcome to the Sunshine Coast Line experience HBU.  Bus connections to trains at Landborough and Nambour are critical for the Sunny Coast Region.  More and more University of the Sunshine Coast students are living on the train corridor between SC and Brisbane.  They depend absolutely on the bus transfers to the Sippy Downs campus.

[Set in train]

Another decision made in the dying months of a desperate govt, the locals need to put the pressure on the LNP and ask them what would they do, they seem to be able to offer little and yet be very popular, this will lead to more idiot voters upset that 'politicians have dudded them' instead of being vocal.

[Mr X]

If we're not going to have a train line in the near future and if that train line won't even have a station at Caloundra south, then that development simply should not be allowed to proceed IMHO.

[Fares_Fair]

If we're not going to have a train line in the near future and if that train line won't even have a station at Caloundra south, then that development simply should not be allowed to proceed IMHO.

It's in the ULDA's hands now.
The local populace's representatives, viz. the Sunshine Coast Regional Council, has been bypassed by the State Government.
Ain't democracy grand?

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Set in train]

If we're not going to have a train line in the near future and if that train line won't even have a station at Caloundra south, then that development simply should not be allowed to proceed IMHO.

It's in the ULDA's hands now.
The local populace's representatives, viz. the Sunshine Coast Regional Council, has been bypassed by the State Government.
Ain't democracy grand?

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

Electorate should pressure local MP, McArdle about it.

[Stillwater]

McArdle makes representation to Ms Palaszczuk, who seeks advice from the ULDA.  She prepares UDLA advice as a letter to Mr McArdle.  Mr McArdle writes a covering letter to his complaining constituent(s), attaching Minister's letter.  Snookered either way.

[mufreight]

McArdle makes representation to Ms Palaszczuk, who seeks advice from the ULDA.  She prepares UDLA advice as a letter to Mr McArdle.  Mr McArdle writes a covering letter to his complaining constituent(s), attaching Minister's letter.  Snookered either way.

And to think that we thought that we lived in a democracy when in fact it is more akin to an episode of YES MINISTER adninistered by Sir Humphry and the faceless dictators of the current Government.
By the time the letter is received by the constituent it has in all probability cost $1000 - $1500 dollars to process, no wonder that the current incompetent Government has sent the State broke and can not afford to provied either infrastructure or services.

[Fares_Fair]

Article: UDIA lodges Caloundra South site master plan (sic) - typo in headline, it should read ULDA
Quest News: Caloundra Journal

http://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/sunshine-coast/udia-lodges-caloundra-south-site-master-plan/story-fn8m0yxo-1226238222051

UDIA lodges Caloundra South site master plan

by: Sam Smallbone, Caloundra Journal
From: Quest Newspapers
January 06, 2012 12:12PM

ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN: Caloundra South's plan includes sustainable measures and energy-efficient building design. Source: Supplied


To help residents visualise and understand the biggest and most controversial development to hit the Sunshine Coast, Stockland and the Urban Land Development Authority (ULDA) have lodged the Caloundra South site master plan.

Stockland submitted the site master plan to the ULDA for review in December.

The plan includes a detailed proposal to construct a suburb the size of Gladstone, covering 2310ha of land in the heart of Caloundra.

The new suburb would be bordered by areas including Bellvista, Caloundra Conservation Park, Bells Creek Rd in the south and the Bruce Highway in the west, making it Stockland's biggest development on the Sunshine Coast.

It is a detailed picture of the location of parklands, community facilities, retail and business centres, residential areas and infrastructure, including roads and public transport.

The plan shows that Caloundra South will have regional transport infrastructure and services, public transport routes, cultural and community facilities, nine sport centres, six neighbourhood and district centres, a mixed-use town centre, a central park and about 200km of walking and cycling paths.



A Stockland spokesman said Caloundra South would become a community of interconnected villages each with a local hub comprised of community services, retail and schools.

"The project is expected to provide more than 20,000 jobs during construction and beyond," the spokesman said.

"Business development and employment creation will be underpinned by the provision of industrial and commercial land of approximately 155 hectares, and retail and commercial space of 179,000sq m GFA."

At a glance Caloundra South would accommodate more than 50,000 people, with 20,000 new affordable homes in a network of connected villages and include 20 educational facilities.

Caloundra South's town centre will provide a retail and recreational destination and the community will be further supported locally by three district centres and six neighbourhood-scale centres," the spokesman said.

"Across the site, open space will be connected and feature two regional-scale parkland destinations including nine sport parks."

The master plan also specifies how Stockland intends to implement more sustainable measures to reduce dependence on local resources, and use renewable energy sources and energy-efficient building design to limit the impact on the environment.

In the past residents have expressed concerns about the impact the project may have on Pumicestone Passage, a popular recreational location in Caloundra.

"Given the project's proximity to the Pumicestone Passage and Ramsar-listed wetlands, environmental protection is one of the highest priorities," the Stockland spokesman said.

"Stockland has included a 440-hectare conservation precinct known as an environmental protection zone, which will provide significant new habitat and an environmental protection buffer.

"Further, substantial corridors along Bells Creek north and south will be re-established and protected."

Member for Caloundra Mark McArdle said the 440ha conservation precinct was a "drop in the ocean" when looking at the number of hectares included on the Pumicestone Passage.

"Pumicestone Passage is a critical body of water on the Coast and it is the most important area for Caloundra," he said.

"At all costs it must be protected."

Mr McArdle is pushing for an independent group from the community to monitor the passage and assess the impact Caloundra South may have on the environment in the future.

"I think that there is a clear obligation for Stockland to fund an independent body to ensure that the Pumicestone Passage is kept pristine," he said.

"The LNP supports the Caloundra South development because we need people, we need jobs and the economic outcomes right here on the coast. However, we need to look outside of this small area and look at the whole of Pumicestone Passage to assess the impacts."

As part of the application to the ULDA, Stockland has provided an Integrated Water Management Plan and Conservation Strategy that includes details on the proposed strategies to protect Pumicestone Passage and associated Ramsar wetlands.

A ULDA spokesman said Stockland had also lodged a proposal under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999 to undertake development within Caloundra South.

"They are currently preparing a Public Environment Report to allow the Federal Government to assess and decide on the proposal," the spokesman said.

"No development can proceed until the Federal Government makes its decision under the EPBC Act."

The ULDA will now review the Caloundra South master plan and Stockland will undertake community consultation from February, giving local residents the opportunity to provide feedback on the plans.

Following the public notification period, the ULDA will review all submissions from the public as part of the decision-making process on the application.

To view the Caloundra South development application visit www.ulda.qld.gov.au/dad/devapps.aspx and click on details for Caloundra Downs

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[O_128]

Stockland paying for the rail line?

[Stillwater]

From the Master Plan documentation, FF:

It makes sweeping statements about a sustainable and connected community of 50,000, but when one delves down into the detail, this is the actual reality:

-   (90% of all dwellings should be within 400 metres of a potential public transport service)

-   the delivery of a future rail line which follows the protected corridor and is integrated into the urban fabric.

(from page 13 of the development scheme document)

How can one actually deliver today a future railway line?

So, what is being delivered?  A bus service just an easy walk from new houses?  No, look at what is being said.  There will be a sort of 'virtual reality', or 'potential' transport service made available.

And, as for CAMCOS?  Will it be there?  Yes, eventually.  What's being planned ATM is a 'protected corridor' for an eventual train line linking Beerwah and Maroochydore.  In other words, you will be able to stroll along an embankment, or a foundation where a new train could run and dream about fast transport to Brisbane and the proposed new Maroochydore town centre.

Stockland is creating the problem (creating a housing estate for 50,000 people in need of transport.  All Queensland taxpayers will meet the cost of solution (buses and railway line/station servicing Caloundra South).

[O_128]

^

Totally agree, would it cost much to build it? even terminating at caloundra south for the present? Stockland should be building the station at least.