Cooran IRR_MCU13-0051 · MCU13/0051

Option C – Relocation of the proposed facility close by to the subject property (surrounding or
on top of the hilltop at 321 Coles Creek Road):
    • It is our assessment that to move the proposed facility to the top of the hill would increase the
       visual impact to the surrounding community, and in particular the immediately surrounding
       neighbours on all sides.
    • A facility (even at 15 m in height) at this location would be visible from over twenty (20)
       residential dwellings when compared to only five (5) dwellings which may have distant views
       of a facility at the current location.
    • NBN co carefully and deliberately proposed a location within the subject property that
       minimised the visual intrusion to the immediate neighbours and the community as a whole as
       much as possible.

Option D - Relocation of the proposed facility on already vegetated hillsides (Tuchekoi National
Park west of the current location):
   • NBN Co endeavours to locate facilities away from environmentally sensitive locations – such
       as National Parks and State Forests, which are often protected at a National or State level.
       Therefore there is a low degree of confidence that relocating the proposed facility within the
       Tuchekoi National Park would be regarded by Council as a better planning outcome.
   • Additionally, this location has limited access to power, and would require significant vegetation
       removal to introduce a clear corridor for power and access. The wholesale vegetation
       clearance that would be required within the Tuchekoi National Park would also not have
       planning merit.
   • A telecommunications facility located within the Tuchekoi National Park would require consent
       from the Department of Natural Resources and Mines (DNRM). The Department also requires
       applicants to demonstrate that there no alternatives exist outside a national park before they
       will consent to allow telecommunications providers access to a national park. We would not
       pass this basic criteria at Cooran.
   • Finally, technically, this is a poor location to deliver reliable wireless broadband services to the
       rural residential areas of Cooran, because it is more than 2km from the centre of the rural
       residential development, and more than 3km from residences on the far side of Coles Creek
       Rd. Both the quality of the signal and the capacity of the proposed facility (ability to service
       simultaneous users) would be compromised.

The combination of these reasons overwhelmingly makes the alternative sites unviable. In the past
NBN Co has relocated facilities in response to community suggestions, where the alternatives were
technically viable, and had no significant planning or property impediments. A local example of this is
the NBN Co proposed facility at Kenilworth (Sunshine Coast Regional Council MCU13/0223), which
was moved across town as a result of community consultation. However, in this instance NBN Co
advises that after investigating this area further, we do not believe there is a viable alternative location
that does not result in a greater overall visual impact to the community and environment.

In consideration of the above, and to mitigate any visual impact of the proposed facility, NBN Co also
proposes to establish landscaping around the facility. A landscaping plan has been prepared by
Jeremy Ferrier Landscape Architects (dated November 2013) in accordance with The Noosa Plan’s
Planning Scheme Policy 3 – Landscaping Plants and Guidelines (refer to Attachment A). Please also
refer to the response to 5.0 Landscaping Plan below. This change reduces the overall visual impact of
the proposal and therefore constitutes a more favourable development outcome for the community.

In addition to the supplied landscaping plan on the subject property, NBN Co has offered to provide
landscaping within the nearby property at 81 Schreibers Road, with their agreement.

2. Please provide a photomontage of the proposed monopole from the detached house
   situated at 318 Schriebers Rd (Lot 19 RP187355) looking towards the proposed monopole.
   In addition, please provide a photomontage of the proposed monopole from the site’s
   frontage along Coles Creek Road, as well as from the clearing along Schriebers Road (near
   the junction with Sankeys Rd). The montages shall superimpose the proposed pole’s
   height and bulk onto images taken from the prescribed locations.