Festival site developers fight $15m council bill in court

The Coochin Creek festival site covers 150 hectares. (Supplied: Comiskey Group) The developers behind a controversial Queensland festival site are fighting a $15 million council infrastructure bill in court. Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie, who called in and approved the festival development, says the state government supports the project and the eco-tourism opportunities it will bring. An expert says it is not uncommon for developers to negotiate costs with all levels of government when it is a controversial development. Link copiedShareShare articleQueensland's Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie has criticised the Sunshine Coast Council for charging a developer more than $15 million in "outrageous" infrastructure fees for a controversial festival site that he called in and approved. Coochin Creek Property, owned by the Comiskey Group, earlier this month lodged an appeal in the Planning and Environment Court, calling the infrastructure charges notice "irrational". Rob Comiskey says the site could host its first event within a year. (Supplied: Comiskey Group) The Comiskey Group, run by brothers Rob and David Comiskey, owns businesses across south-east Queensland including Eaton's Hill Hotel, Sandstone Point Hotel, The Imperial Hotel, and The Doonan. Sunshine Coast Council issued the developers an infrastructure charges notice on May 9 in relation to their proposed Coochin Creek Property, on Roys Road, 6 kilometres west of the Bruce Highway, and a 30-minute drive from Mooloolaba. The notice included a levied charge to the developers of $15,145,209. In its submission to the court, the Comiskey Group argued the Coochin Fields festival development would not generate extra demand on "trunk infrastructure" to that extent. "The amount of the levied charge is so unreasonable that no reasonable local government could have imposed that amount," the court documents read. "The calculation of the levied charge is irrational and lacks a proper foundation." The development will fall within the Northern Inter-Urban Break green belt. (Supplied: Sunshine Coast Council) The Comiskey Group also argued council's notice should have included more specifics regarding which trunk infrastructure network would be affected, and how. Mr Bleijie, who approved the outdoor festival event site after council initially rejected it, said the state government supported the project and the eco-tourism opportunities it would provide the Sunshine Coast. Jarrod Bleijie says the Comiskey Group "are investors of Queensland". (ABC News: Luke Bowden) Sunshine Coast Council and the Comiskey Group both declined to comment due to the case being before court. Rachel Gallagher, a property development expert from Griffith University, defined trunk infrastructure as that which a local government identified as necessary for the growth of that area. A map of festival site and tourist park at Coochin Creek. (Supplied: Comiskey Group) "[Trunk infrastructure is] your transport network, roads, bikeway networks, footpaths, water supply, sewerage, parks, community facilities," Dr Gallagher said. "Generally speaking, any new development in an area that's undeveloped will generate more demand on infrastructure." She said the extent of the demand would depend on the intensity of the use, how frequently it had events, visitor numbers, the duration of events, and existing infrastructure. The festival site will host multiple events a year. (Supplied) According to Dr Gallagher, developers did not have to pay the infrastructure charges until the project was complete, and the money did not go specifically to their development but rather to a pool of money which council could use for development infrastructure costs within its capital works program. For larger, more controversial developments, Dr Gallagher said it was common for developers to negotiate costs. "Developers will try and get as much of a deal they can out of the local and state governments," she said. Rachel Gallagher says it is common for developers to negotiate with all levels of government regarding costs. (Supplied) At the Coochin Fields festival site, she pointed to the one road in and out and the ongoing maintenance costs. "Roads need to be safe enough so that we know if there's a rain event, or anything like that, people can get in and out, or if there's emergency services that need to get in and out," Dr Gallagher said. "It's going to put extra demand on that infrastructure." The industry expert believes the case signified a greater need for transparency between all levels of government, developers, and the general public. Copy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)PromotionTop StoriesThe potentially deadly substance being delivered to Aussie doors at all hoursTopic:Drugs

Festival site developers fight $15m council bill in court

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