Submissions to the two proposed lifestyle villages have now closed. Macdonnell Road attracted around 125 submissions and Kidd Street in excess of 225 (those lodged at the library on July 11 are yet to be uploaded). The vast majority of submissions were opposed to the developments and there were several extremely well researched and written contributions. Tamborine Mountain Medical Practice also made a submission, highlighting the shortage of medical facilities to service the needs of the existing Mountain residents.
Let’s clarify some points – neither site is zoned for this type of development, both sites are currently in the Rural Residential Zone. The SRRC Growth Management Strategy 2041 (GMS) identifies at page 114 at 2 Review of the Planning Scheme 2020 to identify and encourage development of Retirement Facilities and Residential Care Facilities at suitable identified locations, including the two proposed sites. Unfortunately, the Strategy did not envisage that two developments totalling 200 dwellings would be in play concurrently, nor was there an indication of the maximum size of each development. If both are approved, that’s the Mountain’s anticipated “need” met for the next 15 years. The Planning Scheme has not as yet been revised to incorporate the items identified for review.
Tamborine Mountain’s potential housing land supply under the current Planning Scheme is stated to be eight – yes, eight new lots, however in the GMS (page 110) there is potential for an additional 132 lots. Given that the Kidd Street and Macdonnell Road developments will potentially deliver 200 additional dwellings, and are on one title each, surely there will be no need for the Mountain to accommodate any further subdivision to provide another 132 lots (read dwellings) and dual occupancies and second dwellings don’t appear to have been counted. There would seem to be a mismatch between lots and dwellings, not anticipated in the GMS.
MCU23/189 Cabin development at 19-25 Capo Lane will likely be on the agenda for a vote at Council’s Ordinary Meeting on July 23, 2025 – not zoned “minor tourism”, but Low Density Residential Zone-Mountain Residential Precinct. The three new “cabins” plus the space in the converted dwelling all exceed the maximum 100m2 GFA per “cabin” (total GFA for short-term accommodation is 651.2m2) and whilst the dedicated manager’s residence is 82.3m2, the short-term accommodation is stated to be subordinate to the primary residential land use! I’m coming back as a Town Planner in my next life! The maths and reasoning are so much less complicated … and flexible.
Council’s budget for 2025-2026 was very lean, largely due to the rate increase being kept low and Council running at a deficit this year. North Burnett Regional Council’s rate increase was 25 per cent.
The Mountain received specific funding for only four items: $500,000 for facilities maintenance at TMSA (Long Road Sports Complex for septic tank replacement), $34,890 capital support for our Botanic Gardens, $250,000 drainage rehabilitation for Freemont Drive and $400,000 for new toilets at Lions Park (planned for several years and finally funded).
Correction: Rates are paying for $2.1m of the $4.2m Gallery Walk carpark costs, not the amounts stated in my last column. Sorry, senior’s moment.
