Land well suited to sport | Noosa News | Local News in Noosa

Helping end Noosa’s chronic sports ground shortage could come at a cost to horse riding enthusiasts, but take pressure off local national parkland.

The likely trade-off to help secure Noosa and surrounding districts a strategic parcel of land is the Doonan cross-country equestrian course that encroaches on Noosa National Park.

Sunshine Coast council is negotiating with the State Government and local groups to become trustee of about 50ha of land for sport, recreation and environmental purposes.

The overall land package of 64ha is leased by the government to the Wheelchair and Disabled Association of Australia, which operates the House With No Steps on site. The WDAA sub-leases more than four acres to the Sunshine Coast Combined Equestrian Group.

With the lease coming up for renewal, the WDAA has advised the Department of Environment and Resource Management it requires only a portion of the land for its needs.

In 2006 the former Noosa Council’s parks strategy forecast a 42-hectare sports reserve land deficit – or 30 sporting fields – by 2016 in Noosa’s eastern beaches, Noosa Heads, Noosaville, Tewantin and Doonan.

“The strategy notes that particular and urgent attention should be paid to acquire additional land for sporting facilities in the Doonan area,” states a report which went to council this week.

“Unfortunately during negotiations with DERM, council to date has been unable to protect the cross-country equestrian circuit.

“Opportunities to protect the cross-country equestrian circuit and access to amenities will be pursued during negotiations to obtain the best outcome for the wider community. While the cross-country equestrian circuit has been regionally identified as significant, it seems unlikely that the circuit will continue to be available in the future for events, due to both the safety concern and encroachment into the national park.”

There were operational frictions at the site as well.

“The SSCEG wrote to council in December 2008 raising concerns about the costs being charged by WDAA to access the site and the difficulty accessing the cross-country equestrian circuit. WDAA advised Sunshine Coast Combined Equestrian Group (SSCEG) at a meeting in May 2009 that the cross-country equestrian circuit limited their ability to conduct its activities and was a public liability concern for WDAA,” the report said.

These issues aside, both local councillor Vivien Griffin and council’s regional planning head councillor Russell Green consider the Doonan site crucial to the future sporting needs of the northern part of the Coast.

“This land is incredibly well suited to providing sporting fields – not just for the local sport but on a regional basis,” Cr Green said.

He said the Doonan area was strategically located and was close enough for sporting groups on the coast to access, via Noosa’s upgraded road network.

Cr Griffin said even southern areas like Coolum that were crying out for sporting ovals could gain a real benefit from access to such a large parcel of land.

Existing facilities include three sand dressage arenas, a showjumping arena, a learner driver/bike education course and a large hall with disabled access including separate office.

The southern area of the site contains vegetation identified with high to very high values within the previous Maroochy Biodiversity Strategy.