FoLW submission MCU16-0081

1. Application details
File No
MCU16/0081


Postal address of Land (as advertised)
28 Eenie Creek Rd Noosaville


Nature of Proposed Development
Material Change Of Use


2. Submitter details
Full name of Submitter Friends of Lake Weyba
Email Address [email protected]
Postal address PO Box 1660
Suburb NOOSAVILLE                                     State QLD                     Postcode 4566
Signature(s) Anita Brake - President

3. Details of Submission
Friends of Lake Weyba make a submission opposing the application MCU16/0081 – Material
Change Of Use
Friends of Lake Weyba (FoLW) are a community group with a vision to achieve environmental
excellence, to sustain and enhance the natural and social qualities of the Lake Weyba area
as a natural and social asset for the local and wider community. Whist acknowledging the
importance of aged care and supporting the concept of Aging in Place, FoLW’s reasons for
opposing this application include:
Does not comply with the Noosa Plan
The Knowles & Assoc application effectively seeks to change the zoning classification of the
proposed development site. This site is currently zoned Shire Business Centre and Open
Space Conservation. The building height limit for the site is zoned as a single storey but the
application is for a double height construction. The applicant seeks to develop this site for
purposes outside those allowed for such zones. The need to change the zone entitlements
does not outweigh the need for them to be preserved. Approving this Material Change of Use
would allow a precedent to be established and would encourage further requests for
inappropriate development.
Koala/wildlife habitat
The site is located within a Koala Assessable Development Area and borders onto the Noosa
National Park. This land contributes to a significant wildlife habitat for the vulnerable koala.
The site may also contain or influence surrounding habitat for other vulnerable and
endangered species such as the wallum froglet, wallum sedgefrog, elf skink and the locally
significant Little Bentwing Bat. The site also provides part of a wildlife corridor for the
movement of animals through the National Park and nearby nature refuges. The developer
seeks to have “all vegetation cleared except for buffer areas or conservation offset zones”.
The development reports suggest that this would involve the removal of a significant number
of koala habitat trees. The development would also require significant earthworks which have
the potential to impact on surrounding areas. These works would reduce wildlife habitat and
have a detrimental effect on the survival opportunity for the koala and other at risk species.