The development of a controversial outdoor music festival and exhibition site on the Sunshine Coast has been approved.
The state government announced that the Coochin Fields project at Coochin Creek can go ahead, stating that it could help revive Queensland tourism. It follows the approval of an equally contentious 150-site tourist park nearby.
The development proposal has received support and opposition from locals.
A ‘community coalition’ recently sent a public letter to Deputy Premier and Planning Minister Jarrod Bleijie, expressing environmental, traffic, bushfire and other concerns.
The group says the site could have “significant long-term implications” for Pumicestone Passage and the Northern Inter‑Urban Break.”
The site is set to host events catering for up to 35,000 festival-goers. The project is expected to support more than 680 jobs and generate more than $70 million in annual economic activity for the region.
Mr Bleijie, the Member for Kawana, says the festival site will unlock economic opportunities across the region.
“Coochin Fields is exactly the type of opportunity the Crisafulli government is determined to support as we rebuild and grow the state’s tourism industry,” he says.
“The conditions we’ve imposed will ensure the project respects the unique environmental values of the area while delivering huge economic benefits for the Sunshine Coast region.”
QMusic CEO Kris Stewart welcomes the announcement as a step forward for the Queensland music industry.
“We have been calling for more large-scale, dedicated music venues for a long time and Coochin Fields will be a tremendous new asset to the music industry,” he says.
“Having this kind of investment in a festival and music venue will be a boon both for Queensland audiences and artists.”
