Davis Rd Cootharaba DA Planning Report

While it is acknowledged that 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.

It is therefore considered the facility has been located and designed appropriately to minimise
detrimental visual and environmental impacts. Once established the facility will not adversely
impact upon the environment or scenic amenity as:

    •   The proposed facility is appropriately located in a rural area that is not void of man-made
        structures such as power lines and sealed roads. In this context, the proposed facility is a
        typical form of urban infrastructure used to support improved telecommunication
        coverage in urban and rural areas.
    •   The facility has been located on a site surrounded by heavily vegetated areas which will
        provide significant screening benefits from all areas of Cootharaba;
    •   The monopole was selected for the proposal due to its slim line appearance and minimal
        visual obtrusiveness when viewed from a distance; and
    •   The monopole design is deemed to be more appropriate than a lattice tower as it can be
        painted a colour that will provide for visual integration and camouflage the facility with
        the surrounding landscape and vegetation
    •   Given the natural ground elevation, the height of the proposed facility can be restricted to
        40 m and a monopole structure (compared to a larger bulkier lattice tower structure at
        alternative candidates)
    •   The proposed 40 m monopole is the minimum required to achieve the required coverage
        objectives and service the Cootharaba community (given the existing vegetation ranges
        from 25-30 m in height, coupled with the undulating topography in the area).
        Furthermore the transmission dish is required to be located at 37 m in height in order to
        achieve absolute line of sight to an adjoining NBN facility located at Boreen Point North.

The proposed facility has been appropriately sited within a heavily vegetation road reserve and
located as far away from residential dwellings as possible, whilst still being capable of providing
service across the township and having minimal effect on the scenic amenity of the area. While it
is acknowledged that the proposed facility will be an addition to the locality, communication
facilities are now an acceptable part of the landscape (much like powerlines) as they provide a
necessary service and essentially contribute to the wellbeing to the Cootharaba area.




NBN-4BBZ-4GYM-5125 – David Cootharaba                                            Page 51