Council officer recommends refusal of application for Bald Knob accommodation
By Kirra Livingstone
THE Sunshine Coast Council will debate on whether to approve a short stay accommodation application in Bald Knob at their January ordinary meeting, with the community strongly against the proposal.
If approved, the development would consist of 38 residential one to two bedroom units with guest facilities, and a 48 space car park. Council’s development officer presented a report to council at the November 21 ordinary meeting, advising them to refuse the application.
This was suggested because the development would obstruct scenic views, detracting from the landscape values. Speaking at the council’s ordinary meeting, the officer said that the development’s bulk, scale and design was not consistent with the desired rural character, disadvantaging the streetscape, and would be highly constrained with steep slopes.
The officer added the application’s design had not been sensitively designed nor sited to minimise impacts on regionally significant landscape features.
Division 5 Councillor, Winston Johnston, requested the chief executive officer to prepare “reasonable and relevant conditions” to enable council to consider approval of the application.
The officer said it was unlikely they would find such conditions, unless the developer changed the design.
A petition against the development was also tabled at the October ordinary council meeting, with 1,158 signatures.
The application’s public submission period was from December 11 2023, to January 18 2024.
The Terrace Seafood Restaurant co-owner, Jeffery Kutcher, who bought the business with his wife Raelene last year, lodged one of two properly made submissions.
Mr Kutcher argued the development would block views from their restaurant.
“The potential impact of the proposed construction on the scenic views, crucial to our restaurant’s charm, deeply concerns us,” he said in his submission.
“The lack of transparency of the information provided of the entire development plan is extremely concerning.”
Mr Kutcher told GC&M News that if the development was approved, they would sell their business.
“We would be devastated,” he said.
