Airport expansion a threat to character of beachside suburb, opponents say

Community backlash is brewing over a $75 million plan that could transform part of the Sunshine Coast Airport into a resort, residential and retail precinct.

The airport recently submitted an application to state government entity Economic Development Queensland (EDQ) for the 34-hectare site between the runway and homes at Marcoola.

Airport North is listed as a Priority Development Area, which means development applications are accessed by EDQ, bypassing Sunshine Coast Council.

Several community groups and a councillor are urging residents to fight the plan.

Councillor Taylor Bunnag issued a personal statement on Tuesday morning, saying the development "risks destroying our local character".

"This proposal fundamentally risks undoing what makes this part of the Coast special, which generations have fought to protect," the statement said.

A town planning report included in the application seeks approval for a combination of potential uses of the site, including a resort, hotel, short-term accommodation, multiple dwellings, shops, bars, veterinary services, health services, indoor sports and a retirement facility.

Under existing approvals buildings up to 10 storeys high are permitted. 

Cr Bunnag told the ABC the airport proposal was reminiscent of the Sekisui development planned for Yaroomba, a few suburbs north, which was eventually thrown out by the Supreme Court.

"It is eerily similar in terms of a beachside location, hotels, accommodation," he said.

"I think that this has been the sleeping giant within the community in the sense that, from a council perspective, the airport is no longer under our planning authority."

'Very intense'

The Sunshine Coast Airport Master Plan 2040 states the Airport North precinct would have uses that "may include but are not limited to" logistics, cold storage, warehousing, food and beverage, freight facilities and commercial car parking.

Marcoola Community Group president Susie Chapman was involved in consultations for the 2040 plan.

She said the new application was "very intense" for the "low-key" north shore area.

"All our conversations with the master plan was that it wasn't going to be accommodation and it was all going to be internal roadways," Ms Chapman said.

"But this current proposal is certainly nothing of the sort — it's going straight onto David Low Way."

The planning report states the intersection of David Low Way and Green Turtle Place as a "potential site access" point.

"If something happens on the Sunshine Motorway, David Low Way is chock-a-block and held up for hours," she said.

"It really can't take too much more at this stage."

Development Watch community group member Brian Anker said the plan was a significant "deviation" from the original intent of it being an aviation precinct.

"It's totally out of kilter with the current look and feel of the area," he said.

Studies 'still being finalised'

Airport chief executive Chris Mills declined to be interviewed but said in a statement that the airport had submitted the draft plan to EDQ for "initial feedback".

"Key supporting studies, including detailed traffic and flood modelling, are still being finalised in consultation with council and public notification will not commence until this information is complete and available to the community," the statement said.

"We believe it is important that the community has access to the full suite of relevant information when being asked to consider the proposal."

Ms Chapman argued that residents needed to be aware of the plans early so they had time to prepare for the public consultation period.

"People will only get 20 working days so we need to make sure that we're on the front foot," she said.

"This is certainly the greatest call to action that we've had yet."