NoosaCivicSubmissionMCU160081[3]

1. Application details
File Number is MCU16/0081
Postal address of Land (as advertised)  Noosa Civic, 28 Eenie Creek Rd, Noosaville QLD 4566
Nature of Proposed Development Multiple Housing type 3 – Retirement & Special Needs.

2. Submitter details
Full name of Submitter Bernard Jean (Noosa Koala Sightings)
Email Address [email protected]
Postal address 10 Fairway Drive
Suburb Tewantin	State  QLD	Postcode  4565
Signature(s)
N.B.	This form has been designed for the convenience of the public, and any persons wishing to lodge a submission are not obliged to use this form.

3. Details of Submission
I would like to provide a submission voicing my deep concern and the concerns of the people following my Facebook page Noosa Koala Sightings, for koalas and other native wildlife utilising the habitat on which this development project is being constructed. We are focused on matters relating to the koala and in the retention and conservation of their habitat all over their natural range. Our main concern remains focused on the sustainability of the koala population throughout Queensland.  By protecting this state’s faunal emblem also considered “a flagship” species we are in fact protecting all native wildlife.  We remain deeply concerned about the impacts of building a 90-bed aged-care facility on land considered to be high quality koala habitat.  This is being undertaken at a time when koalas are in decline all over their natural range fundamentally as a consequence of habitat loss and fragmentation. This forces koalas to the ground in search of food, shelter and dispersal opportunities putting them at risk of being struck by motor vehicles and/or attacked by domestic animals.  The additional stressor of dealing with such perils has a negative impact on their immune system rendering them susceptible to a range of diseases. We are sure that such a facility could easily be constructed in another location where the environmental impact is minimal.  In addition, it is important to note that this parcel of land adjoins Noosa National Park to the East so this tract of land is in fact a koala/wildlife corridor and as such crucial to the dispersal opportunities of young sub adult koalas seeking a home range of their own.  It is also essential to the movement of adult male and female koalas during the breeding season. Queensland’s vulnerable koala should not be placed at further risk from the loss of an important resource for the residential population.  Providing an offset elsewhere is poor science as there would be no way the residential koala population could reach the offset once it is of sufficient height and width to be of use to adult animals.  At least four to five years of growth is required on nutritious soil in climatic conditions of good rainfall for the koala food tree to reach a level of maturity for an adult koala to utilise the browse (the foliage). Volunteer rescuers and carers are struggling against an overwhelming tide of injuries and illnesses to koalas and other wildlife on a daily basis.  It’s difficult to comprehend how a development such as this could be encouraged by Noosa Council under the above circumstances.  In addition, approving such an inappropriate development application may well set a precedent encouraging other developers to destroy remaining koala habitat in their efforts to focus on the dollar rather than the welfare of this unique and charismatic marsupial. If Noosa Council is in fact serious about ensuring the sustainability of their koala population and we can only assume that is the case as a Koala Conservation Plan has been written to do that very thing, then the ‘open space conservation zoning’ needs to remain in place.  To quote the Australian Koala Foundation “NO TREE, NO ME”. Surely common sense must prevail and we request in the strongest possible terms that Noosa Council remain committed to its planning constraints (open space conservation zoning) and not approve the development application submitted by J & G Knowles & Associates Pty Ltd to build an Aged Care Centre on Noosa Civic land designated as koala habitat. With thanks for the opportunity to comment. Bernard Jean, administrator at Noosa Koala Sightings

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Privacy
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www.noosa.qld.gov.au
[email protected]
T 07 5329 6500
PO Box 141 Tewantin Qld 4565

ABN 97 969 214 121
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Notice of Submission under the Sustainable Planning Act 2009
2015/16

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ee) NOOSA COUNCIL