MCU21_0110 Proposed hotel - Noosa Springs - Bushfire_evacuation concerns

Despite past commitments by Council to provide information to, or meet with residents since early
2020, no such activity has occurred. The submission of this proposal for the hotel should act as a
catalyst for such activity, so that the current uncertainties about what would happen in a bushfire is
understood by those who are most impacted by it, namely the residents and others, including Golf &
Spa Resort and Parkridge users, visitors and staff as well as the guests, visitors (including functions) and
staff at the proposed hotel.

As Links Drive is the only access way for the eastern precinct of Noosa Springs, and Noosa Springs Drive
is the only access way for the western precinct it is appropriate that there should be an overarching
Emergency Response Plan for the whole Noosa Springs area. There needs to be absolute clarity on this
so that residents, visitors, guests, and staff understand what the plan is (including options to deal with
a developing situation), that the people are effectively communicated with during the emergency, and
managed accordingly, so there are no surprises. This plan should be based on the worst-case scenario
and should be produced, signed off and approved as part of the documentation set required for the
Council Assessment of the hotel MCU.

Given the potential life-threatening nature of a bushfire and evacuation event, the fires that occurred
on the doorstep of The Fairways and the Palms residential communities in August 2019 serve as a
wake-up call for all those in positions of authority, responsibility and accountability including decision
makers for the proposed hotel. There can be no doubt that the proposed hotel, and associated
functions, exacerbates the bushfire related risk, due to more people and vehicles than are currently
considered in the proposal.



       4. Letter dated 31 October 2022: “Re: - Additional bushfire issues”.

The October letter item 4. c. noted that “an area around The Fairways CTS area is a maintained area
with an area of 10 metres within the CTS area and an additional area maintained by the Noosa Springs
Golf Course of a width no less than 30 metres wide. There is in total an area of 40 metres wide which
receives ongoing management and as such separates the structural bushland from the attached
dwellings within The Fairways CTS area.”
This comment appears to be focussed on the golf course land lying to the southwest behind The
Fairways development. However, after the 2019 bushfire which came dangerously close to the
southernmost properties in the Fairways, a number of mature trees were removed from the area
abutting the southern end of The Fairways. An area some 10 – 12 metres in width from the residential
buildings was cleaned up, with lawn and gardens, and is managed by the Noosa Springs Golf Course
(Photo 1)

However, the area behind this 10 -12 metre strip is overgrown and does not appear to be subject to
any form of maintenance, apart from some localised weed killing (Photo 2). There are several trees and
weeds that have grown up in the intervening period since the bushfire (see pictures below). There
should be a requirement for this to be better managed in the interest of the residents mental and
physical wellbeing and their properties.




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