Council and Comiskey to face off in court over Coochin Fields development plans
By Kirra Livingstone
THE future of a planned mega music festival site at Coochin Creek hangs in the balance with hospitality and entertainment juggernaut, Comiskey Group, taking the Sunshine Council to court over a planning dispute.
The Queensland-based Comiskey Group, which owns the Eaton’s Hill and Sandstone Point Hotel venues, resubmitted in June a development application for ‘Coochin Fields’, on a 150-hectare former turf and strawberry farm, on Roys Rd, east of the Bruce Highway.
Announced in 2022, Coochin Fields aims to replicate the likes of global music festivals such as Coachella, with up to six multi-day events a year attracting up to 35,000 patrons a day.
An economic study found the combination of music events and expos including caravan and camping shows, would deliver $71 million in gross regional product, including a huge boost to local tourism.
The Comiskey-commissioned study found the festivals and expos would generate 69,500 visitors per year, 243,100 visitor nights per year, and $95 million in visitor expenditure.
In the development application lodged in late June, Comiskey Group stated Coochin Fields “could become a significant tourism and economic driver for the Sunshine Coast”.
“Australian and international touring companies and festivals have already shown substantial interest in holding events at Coochin Fields,” the report stated.
Speaking to GC&M News, managing director Rob Comiskey, said: “What we are proposing is something that is at an international standard so it would be something that not only be the best in South East Queensland but probably the best in Australia.”
But the Comiskey Group is disputing the material change of use to the site, with the council insisting that Coochin Fields should be deemed a ‘Major sport, recreation and entertainment facility’ and not an ‘Outdoor Sport & Recreation (Outdoor Music Festival and Exhibition Event Site)’ as proposed by the developer and which carries fewer infrastructure charges.
“At the moment they are arguing about the use, we are outdoor sport and recreation which is what we have at Sandstone Point,” Mr Comiskey said.
“The council is wanting outdoor sport, recreation and major entertainment facility but we are arguing about those two uses at the moment so that needs to be settled first and once that’s settled then they can get on and assess it.”
In its statement of claim lodged in the P&E Court on July 22, the Comiskey Group is asking the court to find that its application is correct and for the council to pay costs.
“The Action Notice is invalid and of no effect,” the claim stated.
“The Respondent (council) is obliged to: (a) issue a tax invoice for an application fee on the basis that the Development Application is for outdoor sport and recreation; and (b) issue a confirmation notice on the basis that the Development Application is for outdoor sport and recreation.”
“We’ve been going two years on this application so I think you can work out from the timeline that we thought we’d be up and running by now,” managing director Rob Comiskey said.
“It’s a bit disheartening in that way because it’s taking a lot more time but we are still very passionate about the project.”
The application will be heard in Brisbane on Friday, August 9 at 10am.