Community to reap rewards from strategic land purchase

The Sunshine Coast community is the big winner in a Sunshine Coast Council decision to buy a $5.1 million dollar parcel of land on Caloundra Road.

The purchase of the 75 ha land parcel last Friday follows its identification in council’s Strategic Land Reserve program as a valuable piece of recreational space for growing future communities .

Divisional Councillor and Social Portfolio holder, Cr Anna Grosskreutz said council’s move to buy the significant parcel of land now and bank it for our future was a move that showed foresight and leadership.

"Land parcels of this size and location do not come into the public realm often and I was pleased to urge council to make the purchase," Cr Grosskreutz said.

"The newly endorsed Open Space Strategy clearly identifies the need for additional open space, sports and recreational land in this increasingly populous southern end of the Coast and this parcel, in a key location has the potential to help meet this need. "

Cr Grosskreutz said the land was perfectly placed geographically to also meet the needs of local communities such as Bellvista, Caloundra West and South, Kawana and Pelican Waters.

"However, how it is finally used will be the subject of both community views and a master planning process in the future," she said.

"With the Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme well underway, flora and fauna reports on the land yet to be started, and a proper understanding of the topography in relation to flooding and similar issues, we do not yet fully understand how the land can be developed or used.

"What we do know is that there will be a planning process for the area which looks at all of these things and involves the public – but whatever the outcome the community will be the big winners."