MCU14/106 Appendix I - Visual Amenity Integration

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            up the proposed building mass (Refer Elevations of proposed development prepared by The
            Buchan Group, ‘Noosa Civic Expansion Development Application’, Dwgs 3.1-3.4)
           The edges alongside Covenant J will comprise timber decks which casually integrate the built
            form and outdoor café/dining activity with the forest trees.
           More than two-thirds of the carparking will be concealed in a basement level carpark, and the at-
            grade carparking will be divided into three distinct areas, separated by landscaped strips;
            thereby maximising areas for tree retention and landscape treatment.
           The car park entrances and proposed service area will be mostly screened from Walter Hay
            Drive by native tree and shrub planting and through their careful placement away from key
            pedestrian activity areas.
           A pedestrian link that is glass walled on one side between the existing Noosa Civic Centre and
            the expansion development, through the Covenant J forest, will connect people to the forest by
            allowing views of tree trunks, canopy and forest floor, while moving through the landscape.
            (Refer View B, prepared by The Buchan Group, ‘Noosa Civic Expansion Development
            Application’, Dwg 4.2).
           The proposed building and landscape materials and finishes will complement the natural
            environment.
           The linear arbour and entry features designed to refresh the existing front side of the existing
            Noosa Civic shopping centre, and its interfaces with the existing carpark, will further integrate
            the built form with the natural setting (Refer Bark Architects ‘Layers of Green’ drawings).

Principle 2: Dominance of local native vegetation in the landscape
Local native vegetation will form a dominant landscape element on the site through:
       Retention of a band of tall forest and dense multi-layered native understory in Covenant J. Although
        some of this vegetation (including 41 surveyed trees) will be removed for construction of the
        proposed pedestrian link, this loss will be offset by retention of additional trees outside but adjacent
        to Covenant J, where the built form is set back from the eastern boundary of the covenanted area,
        as well by an area of restored forest between Covenant J and the ring road.

       Retention of existing native vegetation along the ring road perimeter of the carpark areas, in the
        south-east corner and along the eastern edge of Covenant J, supplemented where necessary by
        additional planting of local native species. A detailed survey of existing trees along the edges of the
        covenanted area and in the north-eastern part of the carpark has been undertaken to demonstrate
        that trees can be retained, integrated with earthworks, services and stormwater treatment. Most of
        the surface carpark will be more or less at grade with only minimal cut or fill earthworks, such that a
        typical 8m wide buffer setback area between the ring road and carpark areas (for example) will retain
        a band of trees at least 6m wide, capable of achieving similar screening to that shown in Figures 6A
        & 6B above;
       The use of local native species in all landscaping, as required by Council for the existing Noosa Civic
        centre, and an emphasis on species endemic to the SBC site for visually dominant signature
        plantings. Some native South-east Queensland species (but which are not endemic to the Noosa
        site) will also be used in selected locations and for particular purposes such as vines for trellis
        planting, as discussed in the Landscape Intent Statement. People moving through the site and
        using the facilities will be surrounded by and ‘immersed’ in native vegetation;
       The proposed development will continue the strong focus on local landscape plants, which offer an
        attractive and hardy range of species well suited to site landscaping and bioretention swales. The
        species to be selected, their density and establishment, and the level of maintenance required are all
        now well known from past experience with SBC and Eenie Creek Road verge planting, and these
        themes will be continued. The use of native plants in landscaping, and the manner in which they help
        soften the edges of built form and relate it visually to its forest setting, will be at least equivalent in
        standard to the best existing examples in Noosa.