Davis Rd Cootharaba DA Planning Report

Existing electrical infrastructure including power lines and poles are also located to the north of
the proposed facility.

Thick mature vegetation surrounds the subject site which will provide screening benefits in all
directions from the adjacent properties and throughout the wider Cootharaba locality. The
existing vegetation will also significantly buffer and reduce the visual impact of the facility on
nearby residential allotments in all directions.

The chosen site is considered to demonstrate an appropriate balance of the above overall
outcomes whereby the facility has been appropriately located within an area which is
characterised by a predominantly low density rural area and will provide improved network access
to remote locations within the region. In conjunction with the natural vegetation screening, the
proposed location also provides an adequate separation distance from community sensitive land
uses and residential dwellings to assist in minimise the visual obtrusiveness of the facility as
follows:
     • Separated from the Boreen Point township by approximately six kilometres;
     • Setback more than 150 m from the closest residential dwelling; and
     • Setback from public open space areas.

While it is acknowledged that the proposed facility will be an addition to the locality; it will not
obstruct any significant views or landmarks in the community. This is because the location of the
facility and wider vicinity of the area is not identified as containing any significant areas,
viewpoints or movement corridors in the Planning Scheme maps, namely as follows;
     • The subject site is not identified on the Strategy Plan, Noosa Trail Network Map or
         Transport Map as being located adjacent to or within vicinity to a Major Road Network;
     • The subject site is not identified on the Noosa Trail Network Map as being located
         adjacent to or within vicinity to any Existing or Future Trail Network;
     • The subject site is not identified on the Pathways and Trunk Network Infrastructure Map
         as being located within proximity of any pathways or bikepaths; and
     • The subject site is not identified on the Heritage Overlay as being located within proximity
         to any heritage sites or character areas.

In addition, visual impacts will be further mitigated by the slimline monopole design and be colour
matched to the surroundings (if requested by Council). Therefore it is considered that the
proposed facility will be effectively screened from nearby residential dwellings and other scenic
vistas and views from the surrounding area. Refer to Section 8.1 for further visual assessment.

The proposed facility has been appropriately located within a low density rural area and will not
adversely impact the rural zone as the facility has been intentionally within an unutilised section
of the road reserve. The establishment of the facility on the subject site will not affect the existing
or future use of the road reserve as it will occupy a relatively small compound area (300 m²) within
the larger road reserve.

The proposed facility will also be located a sufficient buffer distance from environmentally
sensitive locations and due diligence has been taken to ensure the proposed vegetation clearing
will not significantly impact on flora and fauna. This includes an ecological assessment and survey
(attached as Appendix 4) which found only least concern vegetation is required to be cleared and
no EVNT vegetation or fauna will be impacted upon during the construction of the proposed
facility.




NBN-4BBZ-4GYM-5125 – David Cootharaba                                               Page 38