Cooroy Housing Project

The first step in the subdivision process has been completed, that is the excision of just over 1 hectare of land for the expansion of the cemetery (Lot 100 on SP348613, being 62 Lake Macdonald Drive).  Analysis has shown this to be sufficient to meet cemetery needs for many years to come.  

This leaves a balance of over 2.5 hectares as 64 Lake Macdonald Drive (Lot 2 on SP348613). 

A development application for the reconfiguration of Lot 2 into three large separate parcels, plus roadway, park and a bioretention basin, has been prepared by an independent planning consultancy and lodged with Council.   

Two areas will be dedicated as open space park linkages (minimum 20-metre width) through the site for recreation and future pedestrian connectivity.  

To follow the progress of this development application, including all reports, plans and documentation, use the Application Tracker. Simply enter application number RAL25/0004. 

Prior to Council acquiring the land, the site was used as a landfill and a night soil disposal area up to the 1950s/60s.  The former landfill is located beneath the plantation trees and downhill towards the gully, while the night soil area is towards Lake Macdonald Drive to the north of the gully. 

As a consequence, Council must fully remediate the site before any future residential and cemetery uses.  Site remediation is highly regulated and will be overseen by a suitably qualified specialist and a state registered contaminated land auditor. 

Soil screening will be used where possible to reduce disposal costs and to retain as much soil on site as possible. 

The Council awarded the contract for remediation and civil works in July 2025. Remediation works are estimated to start in mid-August 2025 and should take roughly a month. For public safety, site fencing will exclude public access during this work.   

You can view project updates on the infrastructure projects page.  

A significant sized slash pine and small hardwood plantation is located over some of the contaminated areas of the site.  All these trees will be harvested, and the roots removed as part of the remediation of the site. There is some scattered native vegetation across the site which will be retained where possible, although most are likely to be removed as part of the remediation or subdivision works.   

The screening trees along the northern boundary of the cemetery are likely to be retained along with some of the screening hedge along Lake Macdonald Drive.  

New native tree plantings throughout the subdivision will offset the removal of the existing native trees and screen development from neighbouring houses. 

An Operational Works application necessary to facilitate development of the lots has also been lodged and is being assessed by Council.  This covers earthworks, landscaping, roadworks, stormwater drainage and electrical/communication reticulation.  

Covey Associates, leading Sunshine Coast Civil and Structural engineers of over 30 years, have designed these works. 

All plans and documentation, can be found through the Application Tracker. Enter application number OPW25/0057. 

Given the additional traffic from the proposed development at the Dianella Court and Lake Macdonald Drive intersection, an upgrade to this intersection is required and includes a dedicated right hand turn lane northeast bound (heading towards the Botanical gardens). Median strips and a new pedestrian refuge in the southern median will make the intersection safer for pedestrians and traffic using Lake Macdonald Drive, Dianella Court and Wilgee Court. New street lighting for the intersection will also be included.  

The new road servicing the subdivision will be located before the first house in Dianella Court. 

Council acknowledges any growth has wider traffic issues at the Elm/Diamond St and Myall/Elm St intersections. Theses intersections are State controlled, and Council has been advocating for upgrades. 

A stormwater management plan and erosion and sediment control plan have been designed by a hydraulic engineer to ensure no worsening of overland flow at the site boundaries, and no adverse impacts on surrounding properties, including flood levels in the drainage reserve at the rear of some of the Dianella Court properties. 

Proposed Lots 1 and 2 and the new road stormwater will be captured and treated naturally in a bioretention basin located near Lake Macdonald Drive. Any development on proposed Lot 3 will need to treat their own water, to be discharged into the nearby drainage reserve. 

The site drainage will be addressed by an onsite road drainage system and bio-retention basin supported by an engineered stormwater management plan. 

Proposed Lot 1 (3158m2 in area) is closest to Lake Macdonald Drive on the lower part of the site, or its northern slope.  Council has agreed to sell proposed Lot 1 to Coast2Bay Housing Group, a Tier-1 registered community housing provider based on the Sunshine Coast.  

Coast2Bay has secured a State Government grant to provide social housing on Lot 1.  A development application has been lodged with Council for the impact assessment of 25 multiple dwelling units which includes public notification and public submissions. Coast2Bay have committed to open communication with the neighbouring community through the planning and development process and have already shared plans with neighbouring residents. 

The one and two bedroom units will be designed to suit small households, including seniors and people with disabilities.  Plans and documentation can be found through the Application Tracker. Enter application number MCU25/0085. 

The future use of Lots 2 and 3 will be subject to further community engagement and could include open space, cultural heritage, housing, community uses, landscape and amenity.

Consideration and consultation on the future of these lots will occur after the completion of other housing feasibility projects in Noosa Heads and Tewantin. Therefore, consultation is unlikely to commence in 2025.