MCU12/0012 Notice of submission Andrew Webb

                                                    SCRC CORRESPONDENCE



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Andrew Webb                                                  80438470
24 King Street
Cooran, QLD 4569                                                                            @

March 19th, 2012



RE:,M u12 OO12J
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298 Tablelands Rd Cooran        -   Home Based Business Type 3 Quad Park                           -   Charles Marais

I would like to express some concerns about the proposal for quad bike tours based at 298 Tablelands Rd,
Cooran. The application makes several assumptions, assertions and claims that are unsubstantiated. These
include:

    1.     Cross-referencing th~ map of the "Proposed Quad Bike Tour Route" with the map of "Distances to
           Neighbouring Houses," it is apparent that the latter is deceptive because the the tour route passes
           close by the northern two houses shown. on that map. These houses would experience substantial
           noise and traffic increastlS on  daily basis. Aithough the proposai is to’use an existing 4VVU tnick
           and thus some noise from existing use would affect these houses, the track currently "has very little
           traffic" (pg 20). My experience is that occasional infrequent motor cycle or quad bike activity can
           be tolerated, but not without inconvenience, whereas being subjected to that on a daily basis, despite
           claimed lower noise levels, would be intolerable and cause undue hardship for the affected residents.

    2.     Vegetation is not an effective noise barrier and motor vehicle noise can travel great distances.
           T pography can exacerbate the problem, not necessarily lessen it. Has the real impact ofthe noise of
           11 quad bikes at least twice per day (going and return on the same route) been measured objectively?
           Given that the activity is high on a hill with more populated areas below it, I am concerned that more
           than the immediate neighbours would also be affected.

    3.     Despite the police opinion given, Tablelands Road has dangerous tight curves and blind spots on
           steep gravel bends. It is not a good road to encourage increased non-local traffic to use; especially
           not when the new people using it would be pumped up from the experience ofthe proposed activity.

    4.     Public transport to Cooran is infrequent and unlikely to be a convenient practical solution to reduce
           traffic generated by the proposed activity. The current train timetable provides one train from each
           direction which could realistically affect the proposal, and these on weekdays only.                                   These both
           arrive in the afternoon and would require an overnight stay for the return journey. That in itself is
           not out of the question but illustrates that the public transportation option has not been thought

           through and raises questions of its sincerity. The likely reality is that for the foreseeable future the
           vast majority of clients for the proposed activity would drive and thus would increase traffic

           substantially on Tablelands Road which, as stated previously, is not a safe road. The bus service to
           Co.oran is also in ts k.fancy and only serves a lirnited local range.

    5.     It is ironic that the proposal suggests that an aim is to raise awareness of conservation, when the
           activity proposed is by’its nature and history a destructive and disturbing activity to the natural
           environment. It is my opinion that truly low impact activities such as cycling, horse-riding and
           bushwalking should be encouraged in national park areas (and generally). It is a fact that the
           proposed activity is of a type that tends to discourage, and make more dangerous, the truly low
           impact activities.
Please consider these concerns in assessing what has the potential to become                                   a   major impact on the
community of Cooran.
                                                                                                                                              \,~’Z...
Regards,                                                                                                                  R:   "".2P.".,...
                                                                                                  Box: ..::ZZ:P..~k..".


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Andrew Webb
                                                                                                 19 MAR 2012

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