Letter response to further issues - Noosa Council.pdf

    “Adamson Town Planning, specialising in providing higher order town planning
    advice”




Understorey management and landscaping is to be provided within this location. During the
onsite inspection, it was noted the understorey is currently infested by weeds, which is required
to be managed and does not provide ecological value. The additional understorey planting
will consist of species from the Closed Forest Areas list Table 8.3 - Secondary Character -
Small/Medium Shrubs, Vines and Groundcovers provided in the LCP for Zone 6 (refer
Attachment 2).

It is logical to make some use of this part of the site while maintaining the koala habitat. This
vegetated area will now be a feature of the resort with the pathways and other facilities being
integrated and linking to other usable open space areas and the lagoon pool.

The above are the only changes made to the proposal plans and constitute a minor change1.
In any event, the change is being made in response to further advice received from the Council.
Consistent with part 26.1 of the Development Assessment Rules the development assessment
process does not stop; however, the applicant is making representations to the State
Assessment Referral Agency (SARA) given the conditions of approval relate to the removal of
NJKHTs, which is now not occurring.

Ecological Advice

As requested, Gondwana Ecology has provided further advice about the loss of vegetation
within four nominated areas of the site, which includes the land within the designated Core
Koala Habitat Area (and MSES area) and also the areas designated an Area of Biodiversity
Significance under the Biodiversity Overlay (refer Attachment 3).

Dr Watson has confirmed the proposed development will result in the removal of 63 koala
habitat trees (refer summary table below), noting that none of these trees are within the Core
Koala Habitat Area to the north of the development, given the tennis courts have now been
relocated. The majority of these koala habitat trees (greater than 50%) are brushbox, which is
not necessarily a preferred koala habitat tree.




1
    PA2016, Schedule 2
                                                                                      4|Page
16022 – Noosa Springs “Boutique Hotel”


[OCR of page images]
‘

“Adamson Town Planning, specialising in providing higher order town planning
advice”

Understorey management and landscaping is to be provided within this location. During the
onsite inspection, it was noted the understorey is currently infested by weeds, which is required
to be managed and does not provide ecological value. The additional understorey planting
will consist of species from the Closed Forest Areas list Table 8.3 - Secondary Character -
Small/Medium Shrubs, Vines and Groundcovers provided in the LCP for Zone 6 (refer
Attachment 2).

It is logical to make some use of this part of the site while maintaining the koala habitat. This
vegetated area will now be a feature of the resort with the pathways and other facilities being
integrated and linking to other usable open space areas and the lagoon pool.

The above are the only changes made to the proposal plans and constitute a minor change’.
In any event, the change is being made in response to further advice received from the Council.
Consistent with part 26.1 of the Development Assessment Rules the development assessment
process does not stop; however, the applicant is making representations to the State
Assessment Referral Agency (SARA) given the conditions of approval relate to the removal of
NJKHTs, which is now not occurring.

Ecological Advice

As requested, Gondwana Ecology has provided further advice about the loss of vegetation
within four nominated areas of the site, which includes the land within the designated Core
Koala Habitat Area (and MSES area) and also the areas designated an Area of Biodiversity
Significance under the Biodiversity Overlay (refer Attachment 3).

Dr Watson has confirmed the proposed development will result in the removal of 63 koala
habitat trees (refer summary table below), noting that none of these trees are within the Core
Koala Habitat Area to the north of the development, given the tennis courts have now been
relocated. The majority of these koala habitat trees (greater than 50%) are brushbox, which is
not necessarily a preferred koala habitat tree.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TREE RETAIN REMOVE
Brushbox 113 51*
Gum 11 0
Cypress 62 38
Wattle 18 4
Bloodwood 29 12*
She-oak 19 7
Banksia 6 2

 

 

 

 

Note = 63 koala habitat trees removed

1 PA2016, Schedule 2

4|Page
16022 — Noosa Springs “Boutique Hotel”

Adamson
Town Planning