Reference Document Ecological Assessment Report - Urban Catalyst 3 18 July 2025

4.0      ASSESSMENT AGAINST COUNCIL’S BIODIVERSITY, WATERWAYS AND
         WETLANDS CODE
4.1      APPLICATION
         This document supports an application for a material change of use development permit for a
         dwelling house including a residence and two associated sheds. Reference to Table 5.5.13 of the
         Noosa Plan 2020 indicates that a development application for a dwelling house in the rural zone
         is accepted development, providing the proposed development can meet the acceptable
         solutions of the rural zone code, the low density housing code and relevant overlay codes.
         Section 5.9 of the planning scheme outlines that the level of assessment may be varied where
         affected by an overlay.

         Section 5.9 of the Noosa Plan 2020 states that a material change of use involving clearing
         vegetation in a mapped area of biodiversity significance on a Biodiversity, waterways and
         wetlands overlay map requires code assessment against the overlay code. In this regard, the
         proposed works may not proceed as accepted development and become assessable
         development under the planning scheme against the overlay code.

4.2      PURPOSE AND OVERALL OUTCOMES OF THE CODE
         The purpose of the Biodiversity, waterways and wetlands overlay code is to protect, rehabilitate
         and enhance ecologically important areas and improve connectivity and ecological
         linkages across Noosa Shire.

         The overall outcomes sought for the Biodiversity, Waterways and Wetlands overlay code are:
         1. The natural resources and ecosystem values of Noosa Shire are protected and enhanced
            including ecologically important areas and land and environmental values of scenic,
            aesthetic, cultural, educational, recreational, scientific, economic and social value.
         2. Development is designed, sited, constructed and operated in a way that avoids adverse
            impacts on ecologically important areas, ecological systems and processes.
         3. Development design and layout provides for ecological connectivity across the landscape
            through the protection, rehabilitation and enhancement of native vegetation and ecological
            linkages.
         4. Ecological linkages and riparian vegetation are conserved, managed, enhanced and
            rehabilitated to protect and improve biodiversity, ecosystem health, landscape stability and
            resilience.
         5. Development design and layout provides for the protection and establishment of
            appropriate buffers to waterways, wetlands, native vegetation and significant fauna habitat.
         6. The terrestrial and aquatic native flora and fauna and their habitats are protected and
            enhanced.


18 July 2025                        Tim Olah – Ecological Assessment Report                        Page: 29
Ref: 23-068                 Proposed Dwelling House at 555 Louis Bazzo Drive, Pomona