Cherrabah resort has received council approval for significant and extensive improvements to Keogh Road which may be in preparation for either the sale of residential blocks or trucking water out of the site or both.
In a strange turn of events, Joyful View Real Estate have reconsidered an appeal against the SDRC decision not to allow a water-bottling facility on site. The decision came just after the state government upheld their water license to extract water.
While the SDRC has refused to allow the resort to build a bottling plant on site, the company can still extract water and bring it to Brisbane for bottling and export.
Joyful View has also asked for a “minor change” to their material change of use application regarding the extraction and bottling of water. Council says that it “is currently reviewing proposed changes to the plans, including the removal of a shed and updates to heavy vehicle access requirements.”
Acting Mayor Sheryl Windle said that “officers are working through the details to ensure any decision reflects both the information submitted and the interests of the wider community.”
The road improvements have so far cost Joyful View $45,267 in SDRC fees towards the road improvements. which was approved in August. Council informed Joyful View that the application for the road improvements do not require public notification.
Meanwhile, the land release has been advertised on realestate.com. Twenty-one “premium lifestyle allotments” are being offered to potential buyers with no specific address or map of where the blocks are located advertised.
When the original subdivision of the land was made is not yet clear. It was in place by at least 2018 when the lots were identified in a council document tabled in a meeting.
The 4,000 square metre blocks are listed as “priced from $189,000”.
One local resident speculated that since “they’ve given up the Planning and Environment Court with the water, and they’ve lost Rabbits Eat Lettuce, which was quite lucrative to them; they’ve decided enough is enough”.
Indeed, if they sell all the lots it will be a cash windfall to the resort.
Small lots so remote from city services could be an issue. Residents are questioning what sewerage systems would be possible; where water would come from; and the on-going issue of bushfires.
Meanwhile, residents living of Keogh Road can expect construction delays once works begin.
