COUNCIL: Town planners’ green light for wave park
Council Meeting Agenda
Douglas Shire Council’s town planners have advised the councillors to endorse their recommendation to move ahead with the $317 million wave park which is scheduled to be constructed on the outskirts of the Mowbray Valley and off Trezise Road.
Councillors will get the opportunity to vote on this milestone issue at Tuesday’s Open session in Council Chambers at 10am.
The surf park, to be known as NorthBreak, is in close proximity to the Wangetti Trail and part of a proposal that involves the establishment of a tourist resort, comprising a number of elements, including:
- A wave park
- Ancillary facilities including a freshwater swimming lagoon and aqua park
- A hotel complex, comprising circa 160-room short-term accommodation units
- A village precinct, comprising shops, food and drink outlets
- A self-contained housing precinct, comprising a maximum of 90 self-contained dwelling units that may be attached and/or detached
- A tourist park, comprising self-contained cabins (about 35 cabins)
- Helipads
- On-site effluent treatment facility and a
- Caretaker’s residence.
Hunt design
The Development Application was presented to Council in July last year and in preparing the development concept, the study team led by Mowbray Valley-based Hunt Design – the master planners and architects – undertook a detailed analysis of a broad range of site issues considered relevant to the proposed development.
According to the DA, prepared by developer David Imgraben, it included an economic analysis (undertaken by RPS Economists), of project costs and benefits, environmental and engineering constraints and opportunities, agricultural land suitability assessment, site flooding, access, and service provision.
The results of these studies have been used to inform and guide the concept design and layout of the proposed development.
Approval
The minutes in the agenda for Tuesday’s meeting will show:
That Council approves the development application for a Combined Application and:
- A. Issues a Development Permit for a Resort Complex (Outdoor Sport & Recreation, Short-term Accommodation (Resort Hotel), Food & Drink Outlet, Shop, Tourist Park, Air Services & Caretakers Accommodation) & Reconfiguring a Lot (1 Lot into 4 Lots and Common Property);
- B. Issues a Preliminary Approval for Short-term Accommodation (Maximum of 90 Villas) over proposed Lot 4 – Short-term Accommodation Precinct; and
- C. Issues a Preliminary for Operational Work (Advertising Device) over land described as Lot 123 on SR687 located at 5460 Captain Cook Highway subject to the approved documents and drawings, for example, master plan, among numerous others.
Amendments
Among the amendments, there are a number required for the master plan:
According to the minutes, the Master Plan/s must be revised and provided to the satisfaction of the Chief Executive Officer prior to the lodgement of the application for Operational Work, generally in accordance with the Hunt Design Master Plans dated 29 October 2021 to illustrate the following:
- a) Access requirements through all lots must be clarified and tenure provided along access ways;
- b) Detail the road form (temporary or permanent) for the access road to the rear of the Wave Park main building where access is required in Stage 1 for Wave Park mechanical equipment, workshop and access to Lot 3 – Surf Camp precinct;
- c) How on-site car parking can be augmented if the cross-utilisation assumptions are not reflective of the in-service parking demands. Additional “future” parking areas and spaces achieved in these areas must be identified on the Master Plans;
- d) Provide detail on drainage paths and suitable tenure arrangements for the conveyance of storm water through the site to the storage lagoon;
- e) Accommodate required separation and buffer area from the short-term accommodation precinct to agricultural uses in accordance with conditions of this approval; and
- f) Remove one helipad from the Master Plan.
Notice of motion: Mail delivery to Cooya Beach
Clr Abigail Noli will be presenting the following notice of motion:
"That Council:
- Contacts Australia Post on behalf of Cooya Beach residents and requests that Australia Post conducts a survey into mail delivery requirements in this suburb.
- Council assists, if necessary, Australia Post to conduct the survey with any available resources.
- Presents the petition to Australia Post that has been tabled at the 29 March Douglas Shire Council ordinary meeting.”
Rapidly growing suburb
“Cooya Beach is a rapidly growing suburb within Douglas and currently there is no mail delivery to the residents. The population of Cooya Beach will continue to grow as further housing developments are constructed.
“Data suggests that Cooya Beach may be one of the most rapidly growing suburb in Douglas. The increasing population will place increasing strain on the Mossman Australia Post branch if the residents are forced to travel the distance to collect their mail.
“The current situation is not ideal as important mail is sometimes not being promptly attended to and some residents have difficulty travelling into Mossman. This notice of motion seeks to assist residents in obtaining mail delivery to their residential addresses.”
AGENDA
- 5.1 Grant Street, Port Douglas – Water Main Renewal
- 5.2 Further dealing over Term Lease described as Lot 11 on SP150472 Locality Miallo
- 5.3 Combined Application Resort Complex & Reconfiguration 1 lot into 4 – 5640 Captain Cook Hwy Mowbray
- 5.4 Capital Works Progress for Second Quarter 2021-2022
- 5.5 Body Worn Camera General Policy
- 5.6 Public Liability Insurance for Facility Hire and Prescribed Activity Approvals General Policy
- 5.7 Financial Report February 2022
- 5.8 Debt General Policy 2022-2023
- 5.9 Investment General Policy
- 5.10 Revenue General Policy 2022-2023
- 5.11 Reserves General Policy
- 5.12 Rates Financial Hardship Policy
- 5.13 Concealed Leak Financial Assistance Policy
- 5.14 Sale of Land for Overdue Rates or Charges – Local Government Regulation 2012 s 140(2)
- 5.15 Internal Audit Plan for FY2022
- 6.1 Notice of Motion – Mail Delivery to Cooya Beach