The construction of two structures, that were constructed without consent, at 396 Melaleuca Road, Cudgen has been recommended for refusal by staff at today’s Tweed Shire Council (TSC) meeting.
The development application (DA24/0450) to approve two separate structures, a two-bedroom accommodation unit and one-bedroom accommodation unit, at the Kallaroo Alpaca Stud is before this afternoon’s TSC meeting.
The 4.314ha site is zoned RU1 – Primary Production and tourist and visitor accommodation is prohibited within this zone, however, farmstay accommodation is permitted with consent.
Council staff are at pains to point out that, ‘any application mush (sic) establish how the development meets the definition of farm stay accommodation’.
Tourist accommodation
Farm stay accommodation is a type of tourist and visitor accommodation but it is required to be secondary, or ‘ancillary to the farm’ and ‘to the main purpose of the land and is not an independent land use in its own right’.
‘The main question is whether Council is satisfied that the proposed accommodation is ancillary or subordinate to the main use of the land, being an alpaca farm,’ says the staff notes.
‘The farm is comprised of Kallaroo Alpaca Stud. Minimal supporting information has been submitted to demonstrate the extent of farming/agriculture which occurs on this site. There are no financial details other than what was provided in the previous Development Application which is provided in the Confidential Attachment for reference.
‘Furthermore, no details relating to the number of alpacas being farmed, or the nature of farming undertaken on the 4.314ha parcel of land is provided beyond its identification as an alpaca stud farm.
‘While the applicant has provided a lengthy response, the key issue of ancillary use has not been adequately addressed.’
Staff conclude that the owners have supplied ‘insufficient evidence’ that the alpaca farm will be the primary and dominant use of the land over the accommodation facility that they are seeking to provide.
The DA will be considered at today’s TSC meeting that runs from 3.30pm at the Harvard Room, Tweed Heads Administration Office and will also be livestreamed. If you are interested in public access that is only available to observe in person for TSC meetings.
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