Community & Business
18 April, 2024
Upper Pilton eco-cabins approved
A proposal that will see eco-cabins and caravan sites accommodating up to 74 guests at an Upper Pilton property has been approved, with conditions, by Toowoomba Regional Council.
The property in question, located at 262 Hendrie Road, is approximately 346 hectares.
It is owned by Pilton Valley Pty Ltd and Riaan De Beer submitted the proposal.
Hendrie Road is connected to the northern side of Pilton Valley Road.
The approval is for a maximum of five three-bedroom cabins, a maximum of ten caravan sites and a maximum of 74 persons may be accommodated at the premises at any one time.
The development application was originally submitted back in December 2022.
Nature-based activities promoted to occur at the site include walking/hiking, cycling/mountain biking, bird watching, swimming, recreational activities (i.e. soccer, volleyball, cricket etc.), photography and stargazing.
The original planning report states that the purpose of this application was to establish an eco-friendly facility, which provides the opportunity for individuals to take a break from their day-to-day life, and escape to a natural environment.
“The main purpose of the use is to demonstrate/ educate people on how they can live without impacting on the surrounding environmental, among other nature-based activities,” the report said.
“To do this we
have incorporated easily relocatable/removable cabins, that are self sufficient and have no environmental consequences.
“If the use is ever abandoned, the cabins and systems can be removed with no impacts on the future of the rural site (either to the environment or agricultural purposes).”
Following communication with Council planning staff, the applicant has made some alterations from the original application.
The finals plans have been required to show spaces for 15 car parking spaces, one for each cabin and caravan site.
In giving a tick of approval, Planning Officer Emily Hinchcliffe noted that no clearing of vegetation is proposed or required to facilitate the proposed development.
Ms Hinchcliffe also noted the applicant has provided a Bushfire Management Plan and intends to provide 10,000L water tanks within 10 metres of each cabin.
The original planning report said the proposed cabins are to be purchased by individual stakeholders through shares, and are only to be utilised for personal use (i.e. not to be rented out).
