Local development advocacy group, Development Watch is launching their ‘Imagine Coolum’ campaign, which is set to take on the new Town Plan.
It is anticipated that the new Sunshine Coast planning scheme, which is intended to be completed by 2024, will build on the strengths of the current planning scheme whilst also providing new and enhanced direction for future development.
Development Watch President Lynette Saxton said that the initiative was launching this week.
“Development Watch will be providing input into the new Town Plan and hopes to do this with the support of the majority of the community”.
Ms Saxton stated that she wanted to remind the community that Development Watch is not anti-development.
“Decisions by Development Watch to oppose some developments in the past have been mainly due to conflicts with the Planning Scheme such as deficiencies in parking, decreases in setbacks (resulting in bulky buildings), increases in building heights and density, development on floodplains, impacts on small local businesses by larger commercial entities and additional commercial developments outside the CBD”.
Lynette further went on to say that Coolum and surrounds are great places to live and visit but they, like other areas on the Sunshine Coast, are feeling the pressures of growth.
“Development Watch is committed to Coolum maintaining an appropriate balance between growth, the environment and our lifestyle and to this end we will be making a comprehensive submission on the new Planning Scheme”.
Ms Saxton further stated that Development Watch hoped to liaise with as many locals and community groups as possible, including Coolum Residents Association, Friends of Yaroomba, Coolum and North Shore Coast Care, small and local businesses and Coolum Business and Tourism.
For information on how you can provide feedback please see the Development Watch video on their website at – www.developmentwatch.org.au or email imaginecoolum@developmentwatch.org.au and let them know how you imagine Coolum in the future.