Qld: Golf course project supporters protest in Brisbane

AAP General News (Australia)
12-07-2005
Qld: Golf course project supporters protest in Brisbane

BRISBANE, Dec 7 AAP - About 100 people protested in Brisbane today against a government
decision to suspend a $250 million residential golf course development in the Sunshine
Coast hinterland.

Queensland Premier Peter Beattie last week invoked rare "call-in" powers to put the
development of the controversial Montville Links project on hold.

He told state parliament it was inconsistent with the Queensland's regional development
plan and the local council's own planning scheme, despite the Maroochy Council approving
it.

The "master planned community" would include an 18 hole golf course, between 350 and
500 residential dwellings, 150 villas, an 80 room hotel, a 40 unit golf villa, a 9,000
square metre club centre and a 1,000 square metre commercial development.

Mr Beattie said it would more than double Montville's population and create a far more
intense development than otherwise exists on the mountain.

Supporters of the project from the small mountain town today gathered on the stairs
of the state government's Executive Building to protest the decision.

Montville businessman and rally spokesman John Goundrey said the project had widespread backing.

"We want to let the premier know that there is a great public support in Montville
for the Montville country club development," he said.

"I'm firmly a believer that the majority of Montville people support the project."

Mr Beattie was in Bundaberg today, but Mr Goundrey said the group had passed on information
to the premier's office.

Mr Goundrey said while he accepted the project was outside planning schemes, it would
provide a wealth of benefits to Montville such as a boost in jobs.

"It's safe to assume it will double the population, but going from 1,000 to 2,000 I
cannot see the problem there," he said.

"There has been no development at all in Montville for the last 10 years.

"Really, it's just catch-up for the last 10 years."

The government will spend the next month deciding whether the development can proceed.

The decision to place the project on hold came after a delegation of opponents met
with Mr Beattie two weeks ago.

AAP rm/sc/cjh/jlw

KEYWORD: MONTVILLE

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