New town master plan for 'hot spot' Sippy Downs
Thu 24 August 2006
Amy Taylor, Journalism
Maroochy Shire Council recently released a copy of the draft Sippy Downs Town Centre Master Plan for stakeholder consultation.
The plan is key for growth management in the area and hinges on the development of the much anticipated interchange connecting Claymore Road, Dixon Road and Sippy Downs Drive, Maroochy Shire Councillor and Planning Chairman Steve Dickson said.
“I think traffic in the area will continually get worse over the next 18 months, until the Dixon-Claymore Road interchange goes in,” Cr Dickson said.
Maroochy Shire Mayor Joe Natoli said in the long term, the traffic situation was expected to improve.
“The interchange connecting Claymore Road, Dixon Road and Sippy Downs Drive, along with local road network developments, will significantly improve the existing congestion problems in the area,” he said.
Cr Dickson said four-lane roads through Sippy Downs could be expected as part of a whole new network of roads included in the plan.
“And in the longer term, we’re looking at a building a bridge from Power Road across to Sippy Downs,” he said.
Cr Dickson said the plan had been developed as a response to regional population growth.
“The two key drivers for the master plan are the south east Queensland Regional plan and the new $500 million hospital announced by the premier in May last year,” he said.
“The aim of the plan itself is to create a better town core centre. We will have open space, we’ll have water features - everything will be there. People will not have to leave Sippy Downs for anything. There will be picture cinemas, chain stores and boutique stores – everything that should be available in any regional centre in south east Queensland,” he said.
Cr Dickson said council was considering 10 applications from developers.
“We have applications at the moment from 10 separate developers. They’re big players too, like Junipers and Woolworths,” he said.
Since Cr Dickson was interviewed, Premier Peter Beattie has announced the proposed $500 million Sunshine Coast hospital will be located at Kawana, and not Sippy Downs as originally proposed.
At the time of interview, Cr Dickson said plans for the hospital had been considered in the draft plan, but the uncertainty surrounding the potential location of the hospital had made planning difficult.
“It can be very difficult for us as a planning body when we don’t know what we’re planning with.
“But the plan does demonstrate it can accommodate the public hospital if required by the State Government.”
Cr Natoli said the plan was key to council’s framework for planning and growth management in the shire.
“It will guide the future development of the area toward the creation of a lively and active “University Town,” focussing on high quality pedestrian orientated streets and open spaces, including parks and urban plaza’s,” Cr Natloli said.
Local Sippy Downs resident Tracey Barnes said she had lived in the area for about three and a half years and had expected the area would become a “hot spot”.
“We did a bit of research before moving to the area, we lived at the Gold Coast previously. We saw Robina develop around the uni down there, so it was a good parallel to draw,” she said.
A public notification period will allow for public comment on the proposed plan. Community consultation is expected to place within the next few months.
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Good thorough use of facts.
Michelle