Cooroy Care Farm Town Planning Report - 4 - Report (003)

REPORT


7.3         Local authority assessment benchmarks
This application is to be assessed against the Noosa Plan 2006. The assessment benchmarks are
addressed below.

7.3.1       Strategic framework
The Strategy Map of the planning scheme identifies the site as Rural Settlement, Rural and Areas of
Ecological Significance. This is reflected in the zoning of the site and applicable overlays. The proposal is
consistent with this designation, as the aged care model seeks a rural setting in order for appropriate
implementation of leading dementia research, and areas of natural significance are protected through the
design of the facility.

7.3.2       Zone
The intents for the Rural Settlement and Rural Zones under the Cooroy and Lake Macdonald Locality plan
are as follows:
           For the Rural Settlement Zone—detached housing on large lots—
           i is the dominant building form, to the general exclusion of other uses;
           ii incorporates designs that respond to, and are integrated with site characteristics
           including slope and vegetation;
           iii contributes to the rural or semi-rural character and amenity of the area;
           iv may be located in close proximity to working farms or other rural industries; and
           v offers a relaxed rural lifestyle for residents;
Response:
The proposed development is not for detached housing, however the format of the residential care facility
seeks to mimic a rural-residential lifestyle, and as such the rural character of the area is retained. The
development is also sited so that much of the development will not be seen from neighbouring properties
and surrounding streets. As a result, even though the development has a development footprint that is above
average for the rural settlement zone, the rural nature of the locality will not be affected.
The proposed built form will also reduce the scale of development into smaller buildings typical of the locality
and the rural residential setting.
           For the Rural Zone—rural land is protected and appropriately managed such that:-
           i Agriculture and habitat protection are the dominant land uses;
           ii the scenic and environmental values, the distinct rural amenity and agricultural
           productivity of the locality are preserved and are not adversely impacted as a
           consequence of development on or adjacent to that land; and
           iii locally appropriate enterprises such as bed and breakfast accommodation,
           farmstays, cabins, camping grounds, roadside stalls and home based businesses
           enhance the economic sustainability of the hinterland; and
Response:
Rural amenity and agricultural productivity of the locality are not adversely impacted as a consequence of
the development, as the proposal seeks to maintain the rural nature of the site, and low-scale agricultural
activities will be performed as an activity for residents of the facility.
The proposal will not affect agricultural activity – there are no agricultural activities within close proximity to
the site and the site itself has no evidence of a significant agricultural history.

7.3.3       Locality
The overall outcomes of the Cooroy and Lake Macdonald Locality are extensive and are subsequently
addressed in Appendix Q.


PR139784 | Town Planning Report | v4 | 28 June 2019
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