Sunshine Butterflies PLANNING REPORT v.1.4

The subject site is a 2.02ha parcel of land located at 468 McKinnon Drive, Cooroibah, being
Lot 2 on RP214534. The site has a 178m frontage to McKinnon Drive, and adjoins lots included
in the rural settlement zone on the other three boundaries. The site has a 5 degree slope and
falls approximately 6m across the site from the south western corner to the north eastern
corner; in the last part via a series of three existing farm dams that retain drainage water for
freshwater farm activity purposes (refer Attachment B)

Pre-lodgment Meeting with Council

In relation to the proposed development, a pre-lodgement meeting was held with Council
Officers Kerri Coyle and Mark Lewis on 6th October 2015. The key points arising from the
meeting are summarised as follows:

       The application will be for MCU - Impact Assessment.
       Site plans will be required to demonstrate access arrangements onto McKinnon Drive.
       Clarify the number of staff to be working at the facility.
       Clarify how students would attend the facility.
       Operational requirements for driveways and parking areas need to be detailed.

The current development proposal addresses these issues as outlined in this report.
Initial views of Council Officers were that the proposal had merit. Council may consider a
request for fee reduction as a charity organization once the application has been received.

3.0 THE DEVELOPMENT PROPOSAL

        3.1 General Description of Proposal

The site is to be developed as the ‘Our Backyard Project’ which will become the new home of
all Sunshine Butterflies activities and services including:
- music, drama, art, cooking, woodwork, singing & theatre, puppet performances;
- swimming activities, and;
- hobby farm activities including horticultural, permaculture, gardening, environmental
activities, yabbies in the dam & animal care.
- respite service;
- first aid training,
- care programs and various support groups are provided.

Existing buildings currently on the site are the respite house, pool and small decks, 2 water
tanks, a tool and material shed, and another shed near the front of the site which will become
the main office building. The dams, rural fencing, some gravel driveways and some
landscaping already exist.

The subject site is to be further developed to provide for the above services in accordance
with the Our Backyard Landscape Concept Plan attached at Attachment A. The proposed
development will include at completion:
    - new main administration office at the entry to the site (addition to existing shed),
    - respite house (3 bedroom wheelchair accessible house called “Butterfly House”,
       available for short or long term respite or family stays, available for use in 2017; an
       external respite service is also to be provided)
    - shed,



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