2017-07-11 Planning & Environment Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                        11 JULY 2017


4.       CONSULTATION
IDAS Referral Agencies
Initial application
       Department of Natural Resources & Water (DNR&W)
The initial application was referred to the Department of Natural Resources & Water (DNR&W)
as a concurrence agency due to the site containing mapped vegetation and a wetland regional
ecosystem. DNR&W finalised their assessment on 27 June 2008 and directed Council to refuse
the application. The applicant subsequently suspended the decision period to make
representations to DNR&W and when this period expired requested that Council not decide the
application for an extended period.
DNR&W did not revise their decision and directed Council to refuse the application as:
o        The proposed lot boundaries are located in an area of remnant endangered regional
         ecosystem and remnant of concern regional ecosystem and will result in fragmentation of
         these areas;
o        Assessable vegetation to be cleared will reduce the water quality of the natural wetland as
         there will be an increase in the amount of pollution and nutrients entering the wetland from
         the effluent disposal systems and the runoff from buildings and roads that will be
         established in the area mapped as a wetland regional ecosystem;
o        The area of aquatic and terrestrial habitat will be reduced on the site;
o        Clearing of assessable vegetation in proximity to a watercourse is likely to be undertaken to
         define the boundary between lot 81 and park and will reduce the area of aquatic and
         terrestrial habitat on the site;
o        Several of the large areas of remnant vegetation are fragmented by lot boundaries and
         clearing for fences may fragment the connectivity of this vegetation and increase the area
         subject to weed invasion;
o        The proposal does not maintain the current extent of endangered regional ecosystem and
         remnant of concern regional ecosystem due to likely clearing for fencing of lot boundaries
         and would change the structure of the ecosystem; and
o        An area of approximately 2 hectares identified as essential habitat is proposed to be
         cleared for buildings and allotment boundaries. A large amount of fill will be required to
         raise the level of this area so it no longer gets inundated.
During the appeal process the permit applicant amended the proposed layout which resulted in
reduction in lot yield from 81 lots to 52 lots and a park. DNR&W did not object to the new layout
and provided conditions. The conditions were to ensure that:
o        Assessable vegetation associated with natural wetlands and watercourses are protected to
         maintain water quality and habitat.
o        The current extent of the regional ecosystems and endangered regional ecosystems are
         maintained.
o        Areas of remnant vegetation are retained to maintain ecosystem functioning, remain in the
         landscape despite threatening processes and maintain connectivity to adjacent properties.
o        The current extent of essential habitat is maintained.
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