To the Honourable Murray Watt, Minister for the Environment and Water:

Ensure Federal environment law is applied to the proposed developments at Coochin Creek

We, the undersigned residents and community members, strongly oppose the two large-scale development applications at 1807 and 1641 Roys Road, Coochin Creek on the Sunshine Coast. 

The Queensland Government has now approved both the Big 4 style Tourist Park and the Mega Music Festival and Exhibition Centre at Coochin Creek — directly beside the RAMSAR listed Pumicestone Passage and within the Northern Inter-Urban Break (NIUB), following a Ministerial Call-In.

These approvals do not remove requirements for assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999.

The Federal Government has repeatedly advised the proponent, the Comiskey Group that both developments must be referred for assessment due to risk of significant impacts on:

➤ nationally protected wetlands 
➤ threatened and migratory bird species
➤ other matters of National Environmental Significance (MNES)
➤ the broader ecological values of Pumicestone Passage and the NIUB.

Despite this, the developer is yet to lodge the required referrals.

Under the EPBC Act, the Federal Environment Minister has the authority to initiate a referral when a proponent fails to do so and when MNES may be affected.

This ensures that proper scientific assessment occurs, including cumulative impacts — something not addressed in the State call-in process.

With both developments now approved by the State Government, it is essential that federal environmental safeguards are applied, as required under national law.

The community expects that the legal obligations under the EPBC Act are fully upheld.

We call on the Federal Minister for the Environment and Water to:

➤refer both applications for assessment under Act
➤protect Pumicestone Passage, its catchment, and its wildlife.

NOTE TO SIGNATORIES – Donations are NOT being sought through this petition.

Background (Below is the original petition to the Qld Planning Minister, prior to develoment approvals by him being given, retained for transparency)

To the Honourable Minister for Planning, Jarrod Bleijie MP:

We, the undersigned residents and community members, strongly oppose the two large-scale development applications at 1807 and 1641 Roys Road, Coochin Creek on the Sunshine Coast by the Comiskey Group.

These intensive proposals — a large urban style tourist park (not an eco-resort as the developer promotes) and a mega music festival and outdoor exhibition site — are located beside the Ramsar-listed Pumicestone Passage, a wetland of international importance, and within the Northern Inter-Urban Break (NIUB), a protected greenbelt separating Brisbane from the Sunshine Coast. The area is ecologically sensitive, flood-prone, and home to threatened species and diverse native wildlife.

Despite serious concerns raised by both the Sunshine Coast Regional Council and the State Assessment and Referral Agency (SARA), as Planning Minister you used your discretionary powers intended for only exceptional and rare circumstances, to call in both applications — removing the community’s right to have a proper say and to appeal. This overrides and undermines the usual development assessment process.

• Council identified major environmental, infrastructure, and bushfire risks.
• The developer delayed responding to Council’s request for more information.
• The proposals have not been referred to the Federal Government under the EPBC Act, despite legal obligations and impacts on Matters of National Environmental Signficance 
• The Minister’s call-in removes community appeal rights and sets a dangerous precedent.

Now, your Government’s own planning agency — SARA — has completed its assessments and recommended refusal of both proposals. Their findings include:

• No overriding need in the public interest – there is no significant adverse economic, social or environmental impact on the community if the proposed outdoor sport and recreation use is not developed.
• No justification for location within the NIUB.
• Adverse environmental impacts on Ramsar wetlands and National Park.
• Serious bushfire and access risks – to visitors, local residents and emergency responders.
• Incompatibility with surrounding rural uses and the amenity of local residents.
• Non-compliance with sections of the Planning Regulation 2017 and the inability to achieve compliance with these provisions through the imposition of conditions.
• Not consistent with the Regional Plan Regional Landscape and Rural Production Area (RLRPA).
• Conflicts with the expressed core values of the NIUB identified in ShapingSEQ 2023.

These are private developments, and SARA’s assessment re the public interest, confirms these are not projects of state significance. The key state (and national) interest is that they do pose serious risks to the Pumicestone Passage, one of Queensland’s and Australia’s most precious coastal ecosystems.

There is absolutely no reason for them to proceed in this highly sensitive location when such developments can and should be sited in more appropriate locations as both Council and SARA have advised.

We call on the Minister to:

• Refuse both applications
• Respect the expertise of Council and SARA
• Protect Pumicestone Passage, its catchment, and its wildlife.

NOTE TO SIGNATORIES – Donations are NOT being sought through this petition.