2016-08-09 Planning & Environment Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                     9 AUGUST 2016



     Issues                                                   Comments
      Exposure to asbestos from older properties

     Access & Traffic
      No pedestrian crossing so dangerous to cross          The development would increase
                                                              traffic in the area. Impacts on the
      Traffic noise                                         capacity of Goodchap Street and Earl
      Overflow of traffic into Val Crescent                 Street, and their intersections, are
                                                              not considered critical but would take
      Congested enough, parking already a problem           up existing capacity in the local road
                                                              network.
                                                              The       development’s    access
                                                              arrangements are insufficient and
                                                              require redesign.
                                                              Parking  provisions   meet  the
                                                              minimum prescribed by The Noosa
                                                              Plan.

     Should be Residential
      Alternative use – new housing for short stay rental Noted but not a matter for this
        for doctors, nurses, families of patients, holiday assessment.
        rental
      Should be units for people visiting hospital

5.      CONCLUSION
The application seeks to expand Noosa Radiology’s presence in Noosaville and would provide
angiography and PET imaging facilities not currently available in Noosa. The development would
also provide further floor space for other medical uses and would provide some convenience to
the Noosa Community derived from the site’s location opposite the Noosa Hospital.
The development conflicts with a number of provisions of The Noosa Plan, in particular outcomes
relating to the site’s Detached Housing zone, which anticipate low density detached residential
dwellings. The proposed development is a significant departure from these provisions and would
introduce a large commercial building that would change the residential nature of its street
frontages.
Expansion of health services in Noosa is broadly desirable and aligns with Noosa Council’s
recently adopted Local Economic Plan, which specifically seeks to facilitate increased health and
wellbeing services in Noosa in order to meet the needs of the aging population and grow local
economic opportunities and jobs. However, substantial undeveloped suitably zoned land exists
for the use at the Noosa Business Centre and opportunities exist elsewhere within Noosaville.
While the site’s location would make it relatively “convenient” to the hospital, no significant reason
to necessitate the location at this site has been identified.
Out-of-zone expansion of medical centre uses has the real potential to reduce demand and impact
on future development at other commercial centres, including at the Noosa Business Centre, where
it could inhibit other non-retail development. Both the SEQ Regional Plan and The Noosa Plan
seek to ensure the protection of the Noosa Business Centre for future non-retail growth.
Noosa Radiology’s expansion needs for approximately 300m2 of additional floorspace are
considered relatively modest and, critically, it appears they could be accommodated at its existing
premises at the Noosaville Medical and Professional Centre.



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