MCU12_0012 pt1 · MCU12/0012

Jack Lewis
Development Planner
Planning Assessment Branch
Sunshine Coast Regional Council
Locked Bag 72,
Sunshine Coast Mail Centre, Qld 4560


Dear Sir,

Re: 298 Tablelands Rd Cooran - Home Based Business Type 3 Quad Park - Charles Marais

I would like to make an observation on the above application, on the following grounds:

     1. The proposed Noosa Quad Bike Tours is out of keeping with the amenity and visual appearance of the area -
        this is an established rural area, known for its peaceful and quiet lifestyle and passive recreational enjoyment.

     2. The size of the business is beyond the scope of a Home Based Business Type 3
            ~   More than 6 at anyone time - 10 patrons plus 2 employee riders plus 1 4WD recovery vehicle
            ~   No off-street parking - unsuitable grounds and driveway into site is not suitable for off-street parking
                Noise by this business will impact upon the amenity of the area without doubt
                Dust created by the tour on gravel roads will be a real issue for local residents
            ~   Attraction of business is off-site, not the property lot as the tour will mostly be conducted off-site.
                Traffic impact upon a narrow road would be significant, increasing traffic by over 100% and risking the
                safety and wellbeing of residents, the local community, recreational visitors, and service vehicle drivers.
                Erosion to Tablelands Road would be significant as Quad Bikes are similar to 4WD, and the road is only
                graded once a year. Woondum National Park tracks would also suffer significant erosion.

     3. This business is not suitable for the proposed location and should be located in a more suitable area.

     4. National Parks are for the enjoyment of all and such a tour operation will impact upon the environment, will be in
        conflict with the famous Noosa Trails Network and a danger to its others: Horseriders, bushwalkers and cyclists.

     5. The tour route along public roads presents real potential accidents, injuries and fatalities as quad bikes are an
        off-road agricultural use motor bike that do not comply to on-road Australian standards and are not fit or safe to
        handle oncoming vehicles. I have serious concerns for the safety of the tourists,.

     6. The route along Tablelands Road is narrow and winding gravel road which is too narrow to allow 2 vehicles to
        pass safely, even if the tour was to only use 100-200 metres. Due to the road conditions and the type of vehicles
        that use the road (council trucks, septic trucks, excavator transport vehicles, tank cleaning trucks, delivery
        trucks, utes, 4WD etc) this road is not a safe tourist attraction. Imposing over 8600 quad bike riders on an
        unsafe road is a serious threat to life of the inexperienced quad bike riders, residents and service vehicles
        drivers that use the road. Compounding an existing problem

     7. The proposal to operate as a tour in Woondum National Park and along Tablelands Rd will significantly impact
        upon the local environment and endanger our protected flora and fauna, eroding the habitat that has been set
        aside for protection of our natural environment. The tour will likely have pervasive impacts like disturbance to
        animal and bird breeding and the introduction of weeds.

     8. We understand that Noosa Parks Association, Noosa Biosphere Ltd, National Parks Association QLD, Wildlife
        Preservation Society QLD, Australian Centre for Agricultural Health & Safety and Noosa Landcare have also
        raised their concerns.

On this basis, I would not consider this proposal to be in keeping with proper development of the area and would ask
that the application be refused.




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