Tourist park plan sparks divide in Noosa hinterland town
A plan to create a tourist park opposite the renovated Kin Kin Hotel sparks an angry response from some residents.
The quaint village of Kin Kin in the Noosa hinterland is often referred to as the heart of a country town, with its famous pub serving as the first point of interest for visitors. American-born entrepreneur David Ezrine, who bought the historic Kin Kin Hotel five years ago, saw the opportunity to restore and revamp the century-old establishment.
The process involved removing poker machines and replacing casual dining with the unique Woodshed restaurant, which recently won Best Destination Dining in the 2026 Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Awards.
Ezrine's next venture is a tourist park to be built opposite the hotel, aiming to create a more appealing and shaded area for visitors. Recently, Noosa Council approved the proposal for the park to be assessed under its superseded planning scheme, which allowed for code-assessment due to the land's size, absence of cabins or villas, and the limit of 25 camping sites.
This decision has sparked controversy among residents who expressed their concerns on social media, urging Ezrine to have a conversation with them instead of bashing him online.
Ezrine has also acquired the Black Ant cafe and general store, which was previously the only place to buy food in town. The cafe announced its closure for extensive renovations in May 2024 and has yet to reopen. Ezrine stated that the leased site is now used for workshops and as a bakery for goods sold at his hotel. Former cafe owner Jodie Williams sold to Ezrine due to a busy workload and family reasons.
Local coffee farmer Peter Hinner expressed his concern over the town's changing atmosphere, stating that the original cafe was the heart and soul of the town. He criticized Ezrine's monopoly on commercial-zoned main street properties and their impact on the town's identity. However, hotel head chef Oscar Holgado emphasized that the hotel's recent changes have supported the community by using local farmers and producers for their menu items.
Ezrine, who plans to open the pub seven days a week and reopen the general store once the tourist park is approved, aims to create an inclusive environment for everyone.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
