06/0823 - Applicant's Response to Information Request including Attachments [As Published] · 132006.823

52. Please provide supporting information that documents the effects of the Blocks N, M, J and K

52.

on the riparian zone. Information is to include (inter alia) the impacts of shading, plant
growth, water harvesting, impacts of construction, impacts of lighting on fauna movement,
bank stability, noise impacts on fauna movements and the maintenance of the ecosystem
Services the riparian zone provides.

Prior to addressing the issues of concern raised in this Request Item, Council's reference to a
‘tiparian zone’ is questioned. The Noosa Heads Biodiversity Overlay maps the watercourse
through the site as a ‘Waterway and Drainage Line’ with no attributed ‘Riparian Buffer Area’.
Accordingly, Council has recognised that the catchment of the gully through the subject site is
of a relatively insignificant area when compared to other catchments/gullies identified under
the Biodiversity Overlay. Nonetheless an assessment of the buildings impact upon a the
waterway is provided below.

Native vegetation and habitat on the subject site is generally limited to a narrow strip adjacent
to the existing watercourse. The remainder of the site had been almost entirely cleared as a
result of previous rural activities. The watercourse banks and a band of associated
vegetation is protected by a proposed buffer zone (10 m wide on the north-eastern side,
measured from the watercourse centreline) in which no building or guest activity will take
place, and construction activities will be excluded. The watercourse buffer is much wider on
the south-western side, extending 10 to 40 metres to Alma Way, creating a buffer and
corridor totalling 20 to 50 metres in width.

As previously discussed Buildings | (N), H (M), F (J) and G (K) have been redesigned to
improve the setback to this buffer zone. The construction benefits of this improved setback
are identified in Items 70 and 71 of this Response.

The potential ‘edge effects’ normally associated with development close to a protected
watercourses and vegetation are not applicable in this situation, or will be mitigated by
environmental management, as follows:

Weed and domestic animal impacts

The previous weed infestations in the watercourse have been cleared and it is proposed to
replant the banks with native species. The landscaping proposed for development areas
close to the watercourse include no weed species, and it is noted that domestic animals are
excluded from the proposed development.

Direct human disturbance (trampling, litter etc)

The watercourse is located at the rear of the proposed accommodation units, and accordingly
will be ‘used’ only as an attractive outlook from balconies and vegetation setting for the
development. There will be no access tracks or steps through the protected area and the
buildings will provide an effective barrier between the human activity of Little Hastings Street
and the buffer zone for almost its entire length upstream of the Alma Way bridge.

It is noted that the CAS creek-side walking trail has been deleted from this proposal.

Solar access

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