The State Labor Government should come clean over secret high-rise plans to redevelop Crown Land at the end of Mooloolaba Spit, State LNP MP Fiona Simpson said.
Ms Simpson said a Transport Department document revealed the State Government was investigating a high-rise redevelopment plan in the water police and harbours and marine precinct at the end of the Spit.
Ms Simpson has called on the State Government to rule out high rise on the site and have open discussions with local residents and business owners about plans to redevelop the site at the end of Parkyn Parade which is currently home to the Water Police, Marine Pilots, Maritime Safety Queensland and Boat Harbour Controllers.
“The Labor Government should come clean,” Ms Simpson said.
“This is public land and the previous Master Planning process involved extensive public consultation.
“The Master Plan didn’t say there should be commercial high-rise accommodation in this area, but that the Spit area near the river mouth should be opened up to public parklands while also keeping these vital emergency and marine services, such as water police and the harbours and marine offices.
“We fought hard to get the water police located on the water on the Spit when it previously was on a dry land block at Kawana. However, why would you want to introduce a possible conflict in land-use with tourist accommodation sharing this busy marine industry site?“
“There are many leases and industries along the spit south of the accommodation precinct related to the Marine Industry. First and foremost you want proper planning with compatible uses and I don’t see how that happens behind closed doors.
“Local residents and a wide range of stakeholders need to be able to have their say about what the State Government is planning for this strategic location at the mouth of the Mooloolah River.
“I don’t trust this State Labor Government to be open and transparent,” Ms Simpson said, “which is why I want these discussions to take place now, with input invited from local residents and business owners.”
Ms Simpson said that the current Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme (2014) allows for development in the harbour to a maximum of 8.5m (up to four storeys) but that the Request for Quote for Commercial Advice for Mooloolaba Spit Development Opportunity (attached) refers to the potential for development exceeding the current height limits, in order to attract private sector investment in the site.
“Local residents and business owners won’t want to see an increased height limit here and more traffic congestion in an already busy area,” Ms Simpson said.
“The plan instead should be to remove obsolete buildings, improve the existing maritime related services and open up the balance of the area for more public open space.
“This site is also crucially important for our local fishing industry and for managing our busy waterways and I don’t want to see these vital land uses under-mined by a tourist facility.
