Residents dread resort's 'impact'

Springfield Avenue residents are concerned about the proposed Sundale development on the Coolum touch fields.

SPRINGFIELD Avenue residents believe the impact the Sundale retirement resort proposed for the Coolum touch fields would have on their daily lives has been ignored by the developer and the council.

Councillors voted 7-6 last month to defer a decision on the application to consider previous discussions between Sundale and the State Government.

The council’s planning and strategy committee had previously recommended refusal because of a shortage of sport and recreation land around Coolum and because it did not comply with the Maroochy planning scheme.

But residents living adjacent to the touch fields are concerned lifestyle issues have not been considered by the council.

John Meadows said issues such as the clearing of important urban bushland habitat and building on a recognised floodplain had not factored into the refusal recommendation.

“The planning report suggests there would be no impact upon the amenity of my and my neighbours’ properties. I argue the complete opposite,” he said.

“An approximately 11.5-metre-high building constructed just three metres off our fences would block the northern sun and breezes into our properties, and result in windows and balconies with a view straight down into our small yards and main internal living areas.

“The shading would render my currently productive yard useless for the vegetable, herb and fruit growing that I love.

“I also believe this would reduce the value of my property.”

Mr Meadows said the existing native vegetation on the site provided “refuge and resources” for a huge array of native wildlife including birds, frogs, lizards, goannas, possums, snakes, micro-bats and wallabies.

He said he found it “completely unacceptable” that the site’s recognised floodplain status had not been mentioned as a part of the refusal recommendation.

Mr Meadows said Sundale said it would refuse access to the touch fields as “it would have enormous detrimental effects on the amenity of its development” but was not concerned about the detrimental effects on the properties and lifestyles of existing Springfield Avenue residents.

COOLUM TOUCH CELEBRATES 30 YEARS

Despite the doubts about its future location, Coolum Touch Association will celebrate 30 years of providing the community with a mix of healthy exercise and camaraderie at its grand finals night on Saturday.

As well as grand finals in all divisions, spectators will be treated to a Legends match at 6.45pm, featuring some of the players who helped start the touch competition all those years ago.

Games start at 5.45pm, with presentations about 9pm. Everyone is welcome to the fields, situated off Wembley Road, to enjoy some exciting touch footy and plenty of food and drink.