GENERAL COMMITTEE REPORT - 18 SEPTEMBER 2023 · Committee to Council report

ORDINARY MEETING                                                                   21 SEPTEMBER 2023


     1. The proposal does not further the SEQ Regional Plan 2017 strategy to intensify or diversify
     on-farm agricultural activities as the proposed permaculture and food production is not of a
     significant scale, largely intended for farm stay guests, will alienate agricultural land and
     compromise the rural production of the land.


     2. The proposal is contrary to the Strategic Framework of the Noosa Plan 2020 as the proposed
     farm stay activity:
        a) Will permanently alienate land that is mapped as agricultural land conservation area and
        will not result in a direct expansion of the site’s agricultural activities.
        b) Will be more than complementary to the agricultural use of the land, as it will be the
        proposal’s primary use.
        c) Is not small scale or fit for its setting comprising 3 villages and a large common communal
        area with access via a small local rural road that currently has little traffic movement.


     3. The proposal is contrary to Overall Outcomes 2(c), (h), (i) & (p), Performance & Acceptable
     Outcomes PO2, AO2.2, AO2.3, PO4 and PO5 of the Rural Zone Code of the Noosa Plan 2020
     as:
        a) The applicant has failed to demonstrate there is an overwhelming Planning need for the
        proposal to be located on land identified for Agricultural Land Conservation and the proposal
        will further alienate land from rural production in the future.
        b) The scale of the farm stay activity is not small scale, and the traffic anticipated to be
        generated would detract from the rural amenity enjoyed by nearby residents.


     4. The proposal is contrary to Performance Outcome PO3 of the Visitor Accommodation Code
     as it is of a scale that is not compatible with the zoning intent and preferred character for the local
     area.


     5. The proposal does not meet PO6 of the Bushfire Hazard Overlay Code as it has not been
     demonstrated that an efficient and safe evacuation route is available to residents and that
     emergency vehicles can access the site.


     6. The proposal is of a significantly different scale and character to the approved golf course
     and permaculture orchard and has a more permanent nature.

B.     Note the report is provided in accordance with Section 63(5) of the Planning Act 2016.



6.1.     NOOSA RIVER CATCHMENT MANAGEMENT PLAN

In accordance with Chapter 5B of the Local Government Act 2009, Cr Stockwell provided the
following declaration to the meeting of a declarable conflict of interest in this matter:

I, Cr Stockwell, inform the meeting that I have a declarable conflict of interest in this matter due to
my long standing connection with Noosa District Landcare as one of the inaugural members of the
unincorporated group dating back to the 1980s and a current ordinary member. Noosa District
Landcare is identified as being consulted in the report. Although I have a declarable conflict of
interest, I do not believe a reasonable person could have a perception of bias considering the