FoLW submission MCU16-0081

Road access/Water Hay Drive
The application seeks to establish direct access to Walter Hay Drive at the roundabout
currently servicing the eastern entrance to Noosa Civic. When commissioned, Walter Hay
Drive was intended as a limited access road to provide quick and safe vehicle movement from
Noosa Shire in the north and the now Sunshine Coast Council area in the south. It was also
established to provide access to Noosa Civic and was intended to provide an unspoilt, natural
“gateway” to Noosa Shire. Walter Hay Dr already carries a high volume of traffic. Much of
the vehicle activity on this road is commuter traffic with users expecting limited interruptions
to traffic flow. The proposed development has the potential to create delays at this roundabout
due to increased traffic volume. Safety must also be a consideration with vehicles proposed
to enter and exit from a private care facility directly into the flow of commuter traffic.
The proposed development location on the eastern side of Walter Hay Drive would isolate the
residents and staff from the Noosa Civic complex. There would be no safe way for pedestrians
to traverse Walter Hay Dr to access shops and services. The development would create a
reliance on motor vehicles as residents and staff would not have access to public transport
options. There is mention of a “two-tier pedestrian link” in one of the development reports but
it is unclear where this would be located, who would pay for the construction or how aged care
residents would access and use such a facility (or if Noosa Shire Council residents would wish
to have an overhead pedestrian link at the gateway to Noosa).
Vegetation clearing and landscaping with non-native species
Following the removal of the existing native vegetation, the developer proposes to revegetate
the site with a variety of native and non-native plant species. Non-native plant species present
a risk of spread to the National Park and surrounding land. Changes in vegetation type will
reduce food source for wildlife that currently forage in this area.
Bushfire
The site is deemed a medium risk for bushfire. To manage this risk, the developer suggests
that they would need to undertake some clearing or thinning of vegetation in the Open Space
Vegetation Zone. The reality is that the bushfire report recommends that “all site vegetation
is to be cleared on the site except for those areas deemed for protection in buffer areas or
conservation offset zones”. This report also states that aged care facilities are “potentially
vulnerable uses” in bushfire prone areas due to the presence of infirm persons that may be
subject to severe anxiety in the face of an oncoming bushfire, smoke etc.
Stormwater
Development of this site is reported to increase impervious land areas from the current 0% to
55%. Stormwater mitigation measures would retain stormwater runoff during standard rain
events but cause runoff to Council road areas during more extensive rain. There is the
potential for stormwater runoff (and associated dissolved/solid materials from impervious
areas, landscaped gardens etc) to effect National Park and surrounding land. There is the
potential for a flow on effect to Eenie Creek which feeds directly into Lake Weyba.
Social isolation/lack of access to community supports
The development site seeks to house aged care residents in an area that would be socially
isolating and lack access to community supports. The site has no connectivity to public
transport or areas for recreation or medical care. The development site creates a reliance on
the use of motor vehicle transport to access these amenities off site. Pedestrian access to
the Noosa Civic complex is hampered by the need to cross Walter Hay Drive.
No environmental impact reduction planning
The development does not include any eco-measures or planning for the reduction of
environmental impact. There is no plan for rainwater collection or alternative energy
production such as solar.