Council Report 131998 981211 5 Amended proposal

to the Bushire Management Plan and Bushfire Evacuation Plan that the proposal that an
acceptable level of risk has been achieved.
2.4   Vegetation Clearing
The second emergency fire access trail along the southern boundary of the site results in
approximately 5,000m2 of exempt vegetation clearing. Councils Senior Environment Officer has
provided the following comments in relation to this clearing:
The requirement for a secondary emergency access route within the southeastern corner of the
site requires approx. 5,000sqm of exempt vegetation clearing along the southern boundary. This
equates to a clearing footprint approximately 10 metres wide by 480 metres long. The vegetation
to be removed is described as of concern 12.9-10.1/12.9-10.16 Araucarian microphyll to notophyll
vine forest on Cainozoic and Mesozoic sediments.
The vegetation to be removed is also identified as Koala Priority Area and Core Koala Habitat.
The clearing is defined as exempted development under Schedule 24 (n) (vii) of the Planning
Regulation 2017 which includes works that are necessary for essential management. Schedule 10
part 10 further details that interfering with koala habitat is prohibited development except where it
is where it is exempted development.
Schedule 6, Part 3, 20A further details that Operational work for necessary firebreaks or fire
management lines prohibits Council from making these works assessable under the Planning
Scheme 2020.
Conditions have been included limiting the extent of clearing to that defined as exempted
development.
2.5   Traffic Impact and Roadworks
Councils Senior Engineer has reviewed the revised proposal and provided the following comments:
The proposed use will generate traffic that will exceed the function and capability of Kabi Road and
the Kabi-Cootharaba intersection (i.e., heavy vehicles, buses, etc). The expected traffic generation
is likely to create potential conflicts with other road uses about Kabi Road and the Kabi-Cootharaba
intersection. To address these concerns and as part of a Request for Information, Council
requested an assessment of Kabi Road with respects to the impacts the proposed use may have.
In response to Council’s Request for Information, the applicant’s traffic consultant, BMC Traffic:
•     forecasted an AADT (annual average daily traffic) of 403 vehicles per day and recommended
      Kabi Road be upgraded to a nominal combined traffic lane width of 6.2m in accordance with
      Table 4.5 of Austroads’ AGTRD Part 3; and
•     prepared a SIDRA assessment determining the development would exceed the maximum
      increase in degree of saturation (5% DOS) and triggers an intersection upgrade. It is
      forecasted that vehicles approaching the intersection from Kabi Road would experience a
      7% increase in DOS, while vehicles approaching from Cootharaba Road (south) would
      experience a 6% increase in DOS. The recommended treatment includes a typical Basic
      Right-Turn (BAR) treatment.
Council’s Infrastructure Services department have indicated in-principle support for this proposal,
noting that existing vegetation to the south of Kabi Road and existing services to the north may
limit shoulder width. Council considers the proposed upgrades to Kabi Road and the Kabi-
Cootharaba intersection appropriate to address the increase in traffic generation.
The proposed upgrades to Kabi Road are generally compliant with Council’s PSP6 – Engineering
Design standards.
Conditions have been included that require upgrade of Kabi Road.
2.5   Fire Access Trail
As detailed in section 2.4 above, an emergency bushfire evacuation route is required to be
provided for the development. Councils Senior Engineer has provided the following comments in
relation to the construction of this route.