Response to Information Request - 9 February 2018

 “Adamson Town Planning, specialising in providing higher order town planning advice”



mentioned above, a church playgroup currently operates from the existing multi-purpose
building on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, which will continue within the larger meeting
room at the lower ground level. This playgroup is associated with the church and does not
form part of the school use. It is understood that some volunteers also assist with church
activities, including the operation of the playgroup, some of which are parents of children
attending the school.

The church is operated as a separate entity to the college; however, there is some overlap with
sharing facilities including the use of amenities and the kitchen from time to time as would be
expected. Importantly, the current student numbers are not changing and have no bearing on
the current application. This is because no additional class rooms are being proposed by the
proposal, with the church use being distinct from the college use. It is intended however that
the existing church will continue to be used as the school hall, which also does not affect staff
or student numbers and does not cause adverse impacts off site, given this has always been a
shared space.

Issue – Landscaping
It is not clear what landscaping is proposed within the new development. It is noted that the
extensions to the church will result in a greater building presence to the street and therefore
should have adequate screening.
Information required
4. Provide details of proposed landscaping for the development in accordance with the
     Landscaping code.

The applicant has investigated the provision of more landscaping on the site near the frontage
of the church; however, the existing development footprint is restricted by the existing facilities
and infrastructure in this location. This includes the access roadway, internal pedestrian areas,
carparking and the location and orientation of the existing church (school hall), with the new
church building being extended on this same alignment (refer Figure 2). This has significantly
restricted the ability to provide additional planting near the frontage of the new building.

Landscaping strips are provided at the frontage of the new church as shown on the Site and
Location Plan (Drawing 160012_A-D-A-01-01_2 – Attachment 1). The width of landscaping is
about 1m along the western face and 0.5m along the north eastern face. Unfortunately, it is
not possible to the provide additional landscaping at this location without compromising the
built form outcome.

A green wall is to be added to the north eastern face to assist with softening the built form
and generally reduce the appearance of building bulk. The elevations indicatively show the
planting to be undertaken along the western and north western faces of the building (refer
Drawing No. 160012_A-D-A-04-50_1 – Attachment 1).

It would be reasonably expected that a not for profit organisation would seek to maximise the
community benefit with the funds available. It is not the case that the proposed building works
are being undertaken in order to maximise commercial gain at the expense of landscaping
provided at the frontage, but rather, it is a case of maximising the benefit provided to the
general community.



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17020 – Good Shepherd Church Noosa