THE State Government has approved a series of changes to development conditions for a tourist park at 1807 Roys Road, Coochin Creek, including the removal of a 600-person occupancy cap and permission for private helicopter access, prompting strong criticism from environmental groups.
The amendments, signed off as a “minor change” under the Planning Act 2016, apply to the Comiskey Group’s proposed tourist park within the ecologically sensitive Pumicestone Passage and Northern Inter Urban Break green belt.
The Sunshine Coast Environment Council (SCEC) has condemned the decision, warning the revised conditions weaken key environmental safeguards and increase pressure on local infrastructure.
SCEC spokesperson Narelle McCarthy said the removal of the occupancy cap was particularly alarming.“They’ve effectively intensified the impacts while calling it a minor change,” Ms McCarthy said. “The original conditions were necessary and fundamental. What’s been done now is to weaken them at every turn.”
She said the 600-person limit had been a critical control for managing cumulative impacts on a sensitive coastal and creek environment.
In its submission seeking changes, Coochin Creek Property Pty Ltd argued the cap was unnecessary, stating that site limits alone were a clearer and more enforceable measure of intensity.
“We request that the 600-person occupancy limit be removed,” the company said, arguing monitoring total numbers introduced “unnecessary complexity and uncertainty”.
Ms McCarthy also raised concerns about reduced referral requirements and oversight mechanisms, saying earlier safeguards involving council and emergency services appeared to have been scaled back. “Council produced a 27-page assessment raising serious concerns, yet the effective response was reduced to about seven pages,” she said.
The approval also includes provision for private helicopter landings for owners, which Ms McCarthy described as emblematic of a “rock star tourism” approach inconsistent with community expectations.
The developer said the amendment would provide operational flexibility while maintaining the intent of existing conditions.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Planning Jarrod Bleijie said the Tourist Park conditions balanced environmental protection with economic opportunity.
“Queensland’s tourism future depends on projects like this,” he said, adding the conditions ensured the development would “respect environmental values while supporting jobs and tourism growth”.
A coalition of ten Sunshine Coast community and environmental organisations has also raised concerns, saying approved changes weaken previously stated safeguards for safety, traffic and environmental protection.The Comiskey Group was contacted for comment.