2016-08-09 Planning & Environment Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                   9 AUGUST 2016


   The level of convenience is not considered to represent a significant need. The existing
     Noosaville Medical and Professional Centre provides a similar level of convenience and other
     medical uses are already dispersed in Noosaville. Co-location would be better addressed
     on the Noosa Hospital site itself, which could accommodate further development.
3.4. Grounds to Support the Application Despite Planning Conflicts
Given the development’s conflict with planning provisions for the site, it is important grounds be
identified that overcome the conflicts. Section 329 of the Sustainable Planning Act 2009 requires
sufficient grounds must exist to justify a decision, despite a conflict with a relevant instrument.
Grounds are simply defined in the SPA as matters of public interest and can be taken to include
matters such as: planning instruments that are incorrect or have been overtaken by events (i.e. are
out of date); outcomes that address identified community need; and outcomes that provide
overriding community benefit.
The applicant acknowledges some extent of planning conflict and identifies the following grounds
it considers sufficient to justify the development, discussed below.
3.4.1. Assessment of Applicant’s Grounds for Approval
Noosa Radiology Expansion Need
The proposed development is to accommodate the relocation of an existing specialist medical
practice (Noosa Radiology) located within the Noosa Professional Centre to the south of the
subject site which has outgrown its current premises. The [submitted] Economic Needs Analysis
found that there are no other nearby sites of a suitable size and location that can accommodate
the proposed development;
Assessment – Disagree
Noosa Radiology’s need for approximately an additional 300m2 of floorspace is considered
relatively minor and can be met elsewhere. Ample suitably zoned land has been nominated for
medical uses under The Noosa Plan at the Noosa Business Centre (NBC) and further opportunities
exist elsewhere in Noosaville. Critically, the owner of the existing Noosaville Medical and
Professional Centre advises the applicant’s floorspace needs can be accommodated within its
existing premises.
Creation of a Medical Hub
The location of the proposed medical centre opposite the Noosa Hospital would create a ‘hub’ that
allows Noosa to capitalise on the economic and social benefits that the co-location of related
services provides;
Assessment – Disagree
The Noosa Plan seeks to establish such hubs to the south on Goodchap Street, where the
Noosaville Medical and Professional Centre has been established, and at the NBC, and Mary
Street/Thomas Street Precinct. Further development potential also exists at the Noosa Hospital
site itself. Creation of an additional hub has the potential to impact on and fetter the development
of those planned clusters.
Creation of a new hub incorporating the site might logically extend a further 300m south along
Goodchap Street between the existing Noosaville Medical and Commercial Centre and the subject
site and possibly through to Hilton Terrace. The impacts of such a precinct on the local road
network and Noosa’s existing commercial precincts would need detailed considered before being
adopted in Noosa’s planning scheme.




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