SEKISUI UPDATE NO 5 IMPORTANT click here to sign and share a petition read on THE FACTS 1. Lend Lease lodged an Application for Preliminary Approval for this site in 2005 and, after 3,800 objections, obtained approval for buildings up to 16 metres (2, 3 and 4 storeys). The community were outraged. Despite the approval, Lend Lease sat on the site until it onsold the land to Sekisui in 2011 with that approval attached. 2. Sekisui have stated they intend to lodge an Application for Preliminary Approval in January 2017. 3. Sekisui and Lend Lease currently work together on other projects so Sekisui would be well aware of the history of the site. 4. Any new Application by Sekisui will be assessed under the current 2014 Planning Scheme which allows buildings up to 8.5 metres (2 storeys). 5. Sekisui intend to apply for buildings up to 24 metres (7 storeys) 3 times the allowable height. 6. Sekisui have stated on its website that the topography of the land will be altered and that could well raise the height of the buildings even further. OUR CONCERNS Apart from the fact that we do not want 3 to 7 storey buildings on the site, if Sekisui obtained an approval: It could proceed with Stage 1 and then put in a new Application for higher buildings on the balance of the land; or It could sit on the site as Lend Lease did and in a few years time on-sell it to another developer and that new developer could apply for higher buildings (the exact same position we are in now); It would send a message to other developers that they too can override the Planning Scheme and apply for increased heights not only in Coolum but in the entire Sunshine Coast Council region. THIS IS NOT THE MESSAGE we want sent to developers. Development Watch is not anti-development. We just want the Planning Scheme into which we had input, to be respected and delivered upon. PETITION: Please sign the above petition and then share on facebook and/or send to everyone who wants the Planning Scheme respected in relation to building heights. The petition will also be on our website. SIGNS/SURVEY: For a sign and/or to complete a CRA 2 question survey, please email saveyaroomba2016@gmail.com. JOIN DW now or REGISTER AS A FRIEND of DW. Go online and download our Membership Form or contact Kathy Dwyer on secretary.developmentwatch@gmail.com. Tel: 0477 020 561/5471 7637. You can keep informed by visiting our WEBSITEwww.developmentwatch.org.au and clicking on the FACEBOOK link.
SEKISUI UPDATE NO 4 SEKISUI MEETING WITH COUNCIL ON 27 OCTOBER!! Sekisui have stated they want ** ONE high rise building on their site and that they intend to construct this building first. Mark my words, if Sekisui get one high rise building, they could lodge another DA at a later stage for more and perhaps even higher. ** CORRECTION Sekisui have advised that it is not just one high rise building. They have also advised the buildings are medium rise but we do not agree. Again, we have to place our trust in Council to enforce the Planning Scheme. Council voted overwhelmingly in April last year to stand by the Planning Scheme in relation to this site by not agreeing to an amendment and the majority of these Councillors were returned to office because of that stand. We see absolutely no reason why any of those Councillors should change their minds now. URGENT! Sekisui will be meeting with Council on 27 October to present their concepts. We ask that you email all councillors before 27 October reminding them that we do not want high rise, high intensity development at Yaroomba. The councillors email addresses are on our website under links. There is a legislative process to be followed and when the time comes, we will be vigorously opposing any Application for high rise or high intensity development on this site and we are hoping you will stand by us: JOIN DW now or REGISTER AS A FRIEND of DW. Go online and download our Membership Form or contact our secretary Kathy Dwyer on secretary@developmentwatch.org.au Tel: 0477 020 561 or 5471 7637. SIGNS: For signs, please contact our secretary Kathy Dwyer at secretary@developmentwatch.org.au Tel: 0477 020 561 or 5471 7637 to order one.
SEKISUI UPDATE NO 3 What doesn t Sekisui understand about NO HIGHRISE? They are still going for 6 to 8 storeys on their Yaroomba site!! Sekisui were, and still would be, well aware of local community expectations for this site and yet they choose to pretend they don t know. DW offered to arrange local community consultation once Sekisui had some site specific proposals ready but they have stated they do not have any proposals ready yet, just some broad concepts or visions. However, Sekisui have stated they are taking these broad concepts or visions to Council in early September. At the end of the day we have to place our trust in Council to enforce the Planning Scheme. Council voted overwhelmingly in April last year to stand by the Planning Scheme in relation to this site by not agreeing to an amendment. We see absolutely no reason why any of those Councillors should change their minds now. Planning Schemes are there for a reason and special treatment should not be given to one particular developer purely for its own financial benefit. We will be vigorously opposing any Application for highrise or high intensity development on this site and we are hoping you will stand by us. So that we can remind Sekisui of our message please URGENTLY REGISTER NOW! JOIN DW now or REGISTER AS A FRIEND of DW. Go online and download our Membership Form or contact our secretary Kathy Dwyer on secretary@developmentwatch.org.au Tel: 0477 020 561 or 5471 7637. If you are already registered, please ensure your details are up to date. This data base will be very important when we need to lodge submissions either to a Planning Scheme Amendment or a new Development Application so please pass this email on to any concerned friends or residents so that we can be prepared when the time comes. SIGNS: As Sekisui have chosen to ignore the local community, we feel it is time to get your signs out and reaffix them to your front fence. If you don t have a sign please contact our secretary Kathy Dwyer at secretary@developmentwatch.org.au Tel: 0477 020 561 or 5471 7637 to order one. SUGGESTED LETTERS (As soon as possible as Sekisui meeting with Council early Sept) PLEASE EMAIL All Councillors their email addresses are available on our website under the links heading. Please, do not be rude with your messages just remind the Councillors that they stood by the local community and our Planning Scheme last year and we will be expecting them to do the same this time around.
SEKISUI UPDATE NO 2 Dear Member/Friend of Development Watch, Current approval: 6 x 4 storey buildings up to 16metres in height and a number of 2 and 3 storey buildings (but not a 5 star hotel) Any new DA: A 5 star hotel would need to be in a new DA and would be assessed under the existing Planning Scheme which has a limit of 8.5 metres (2 to 3 storeys) and we can object to anything outside this. Planning Scheme Council voted unanimously last year not to amend our Planning Scheme. Amendment: In the unlikely event Council changes its mind there is a legislated process to be followed and we will have the opportunity to lodge a submission. If Council approves it regardless of our submissions, it then goes to the State Government for its approval. In the unlikely event that the State Government approves a change, Sekisui could then lodge its DA and we would not be able to object. Sekisui could build a 'world's best practice' luxury 5 or even 6 star, eco-friendly, low rise resort. There are several award winning low rise resorts in Australia: Saffire at Freycinet, Tasmania and Elements on Byron are just two examples check them out online. A resort of this type would fit in perfectly with the visual amenity of the area and the view from the top of Mt Coolum. The views for the residents in the low lying hills behind the site could also be protected and it would meet the requirements of our Planning Scheme. Development Watch has stated it is willing to participate in local community consultation when some site specific proposals are ready. We will keep you posted on this event as 4 residents from each area in the vicinity of the site will be chosen by Coolum Residents Association to participate. REGISTER NOW! Concerned about the future of Yaroomba? Join DW now or register as a friend of DW. Just contact our secretary Kathy Dwyer on secretary@developmentwatch.org.au Tel: 0477 020 561 or 5471 7637. If you are already registered, please ensure your details are up to date. This data base will be very important if we need to lodge submissions either to a Planning Scheme Amendment or a new Development Application so please pass this email on to any concerned residents. SUGGESTED LETTERS SC Daily editorial@scnews.com.au, Coolum News coolumnews@scnews.com.au, Advertiser editorial@svgazette.com.au. AND TO: Toru Abe, Director of Sekisui House Australia, PO Box 827, North Ryde BC, NSW, 1670 or message Sekisui House Australia on their facebook site. Please, do not be rude with your messages just ask them to respect our community and our laws. SIGNS Not yet but perhaps soon if Sekisui don t start listening. You can put your name down for a sign now though by contacting Fiona 0409 484 393 if you wish.
SEKISUI UPDATE NO 1 Dear Member/Friend of Development Watch, As you are no doubt aware, Sekisui invited Development Watch to a series of four workshops two to be held in Nambour and two at their Sales Office at Yaroomba. We refused their invitation primarily because the issues being discussed were very broad and most had all been canvassed previously during the process leading up to the signing off by Council and the State Government on the Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme just two years ago. The Mayor has said that Sekisui should engage with and win the confidence of the local community. The State Government has said the Government is committed to local community input into a planning scheme. Even with Development Watch attending, there would have been a very small representation on behalf of the Coolum local community. Coolum Business & Tourism is the only group attending the workshops that in any way directly represents the Coolum community, attending on behalf of a percentage of Coolum s businesses. (Coastcare has since been invited to one session). The remaining three workshops are: 24 May 2016 8.30am to 10.30am Coolum Residences Display Centre, 1443 David Low Way 31 May 2016 8.30am to 10.30 am Coolum Residences Display Centre, 1443 David Low Way 7 June 2016 8.30 am to 10.30 am Nambour RSL Club Sekisui have stated that they are hoping to have a sketch prepared at the end of the four workshops. Once this sketch and/or concepts are ready, it is our intention to invite Sekisui, along with all the community groups in the Coolum Area Town Plan and a selection of residents of our choosing, to a meeting where we can discuss more site specific issues with them. Could you please ensure that you and anyone you know who is concerned about the future of this site and how it is developed, is registered as a member or friend of Development Watch. To do this you can contact our secretary Kathy Dwyer on secretary@developmentwatch.org.au Tel: 0477 020 561 or 5471 7637. If you are already registered, please ensure your details are up to date. SUGGESTED LETTERS - YOUR DECISION You could message the Premier at http://www.thepremier.qld.gov.au/tools/contact.aspx reminding her that between 7000 and 8000 letters were sent to Campbell Newman and that she said she would listen. You could copy this letter to the Deputy Premier at deputy.premier@ministerial.qld.gov.au. You could also write to the Sunshine Coast Daily editorial@scnews.com.au the Coolum News coolumnews@scnews.com.au and the Advertiser editorial@svgazette.com.au. You could also write to the Mayor and your local Councillor at mail@sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au and marking it to their attention. Please, do not be rude with your messages this does not achieve anything and does not help our cause. With blogs, please don t waste your energy responding to things like Nimbys and Whingers just respond to intelligent constructive criticism (if any). SIGNS YOUR DECISION Community members have contacted us wanting signs. A community representative is taking orders for signs - Fiona can be contacted on 0409 484 393.