SCEC has been involved in this campaign since 2013 when the then Premier Campbell Newman returned from a trip to Japan trumpeting a new "Billion dollar development for Yaroomba" and the first artist's impressions were revealed. This led to an approach to Sekisui House Development Manager Evan Aldridge by community groups to gain a better understanding of the proposal.
Genuine efforts to provide community perspectives and to see how they would be reflected in Sekisui's proposed concept at the time were unfortunately not met with the same level of openness.
However, Mr Aldridge was quoted in the Sunshine Coast Daily article on Sekisui's plans in October 2013 "Whatever we do will be in keeping with existing development and would not impose on the site,'' Mr Aldridge said.
When more details of the extent of Sekisui's development proposal emerged as part of their attempt for a major amendment to newly adopted Sunshine Coast Planning Scheme 2014, the community mobilised to protect the unique environmental and amenity values of Yaroomba and surrounds from such a grossly inappropriate development.
Spirited actions and education galvanised the broader Sunshine Coast community and called on our elected Councillors to refuse Sekisui's application for a major amendment to our newly minted town plan.
A packed gallery erupted with joy as the community saw Councillors vote 10 to 1 to rightly refuse the amendment at a Special Meeting on 27 April 2015
Sekisui House subsequently lodged a Preliminary Approval to Override the Planning Scheme on 5th May 2017
For further information and current updates of the Sekisui Development access the reports here