MORE than 100 of the frontline warriors in what could be one of Noosa’s next big eco-battles turned out last Sunday to help save Lake Weyba from a proposed major development.
A flotilla of 40 water craft organised by the Friends of Lake Weyba paddled to the earmarked development site for the Kayak for Weyba family day to protest the scale and nature of the Mantle Group’s Noosa on Weyba project.
Local residents and supporters were joined by Noosa-based Sunshine Coast councillors Russell Green and Tony Wellington in a show of unity against a master-planned community that would be outside the Noosa Plan and, according to FOLW, a threat to the “lungs of Noosa”.
“There was a tremendous turnout from the local community, including many who use the lake for family recreation,” FOLW president Anita Brake said.
“There is no doubt that the proposed massive urban development will compromise the public amenity of Lake Weyba, as well as compromise the environmental integrity of the lake and its tributaries, including Weyba Creek.
“The development would be a permanent blot on the Noosa landscape.”
The protesters said apart from putting their semi-rural lifestyle at risk, the project threatened the future of the local kangaroo mob as well as threatened species such as the koala.
Mantle’s Noosa on Weyba website states “the project team will soon submit a master plan with Sunshine Coast Regional Council”.
“Noosa on Weyba is an environmentally sensitive urban development on a 303ha landholding south of Noosa Civic Shopping Centre, partly adjacent to Lake Weyba,” the website says.
“Existing urban development abuts the north, west and southern boundaries of the site.
“Noosa on Weyba will be designed to achieve the EarthCheck Precinct Planning and Design Standard, which recognises environmental, economic and social sustainability.
“Only 19% of the entire landholding (35% of retained land) will be developed, with the remaining land preserved and maintained.”
Mantle says a total of 876 dwellings are proposed, made up of aged-care apartments, retirement-living cottages, residential lots, apartments (maximum 50) and townhouses.
A kiosk/teahouse is suggested as a gateway to Noosa National Park, and a 60m buffer zone from the lake to the nearest structure is required by the Queensland Coastal Plan.
Jonathan D May