MCU14/0106 & OPW15/0001 Town Planning Report & Appendix A Code Compliance

                                                                                                         Town Planning Report
                          28 Eenie Creek Road, Noosaville and parts of the road reserves of Hofmann Drive and Walter Hay Drive



screen the proposal from view, while in the longer term, development of these precincts, in addition to a
retained and enhanced band of vegetation along the ring road will continue to screen the proposal. The
assessment finds that the design of the development and its relationship to the surrounding area will mean
that it is viewed as visually subordinate, particularly due to its low form, retention of vegetation, preservation
of Covenant J and extensive landscaping.
The proposed development will not only have an acceptable level of impact on the visual amenity of the site
and the broader locality, but will also provide a high quality architectural statement and built environment
appropriate to the function and character of the SBC.

7.4.3         Landscape Strategy
The proposed development has sought to immerse the built form elements into the vegetation on the site, with
the intention of integrating built form, public realm and car parking into the existing bushland character.
Vegetation within Covenant J has been retained (with few exceptions identified elsewhere in this report). The
proposal seeks to utilise this vegetation to reduce the bulk of the buildings and structures, as well as provide
opportunities for visitors to the site to enjoy the bushland setting.
Vegetation outside of Covenant J has also been retained where possible to promote natural character,
particularly in the Civic Plaza and within and around the car parking areas. These areas are clustered and
compartmentalised to reduce their prominence on site.
New plantings of endemic species will complement the existing vegetation to ensure local native vegetation
remains the dominant landscape feature on site.

7.5           Environmental Impacts
The Biodiversity Assessment undertaken by Cardno (refer to Appendix F – State and Local Government
Ecological Assessment to this report) identifies the proposed development, including the vegetation clearing
required to facilitate the development, results in the following impacts:
         the loss of approximately 7.5ha of regrowth vegetation, which includes:
             -   approximately 7.2ha of koala medium value bushland habitat and medium value rehabilitation
                 habitat;
             -   the loss of approximately 3,118 koala habitat trees;
             -   habitat that has some value to several common reptiles, small mammals and birds, including
                 potential habitat for the Elf Skink, that may be present, but in undetectable numbers;
             -   approximately 0.02ha of regrowth vegetation associated with wetlands and possible Wallum
                 Froglet habitat;
             -   approximately 0.05ha (containing approximately 62 trees that are >10cm diameter at breast
                 height) within Covenant J expected as a consequence of a low light environment under the
                 pedestrian link; and
             -   approximately 0.02ha within the southern edge of Covenant J for road batters to allow for the
                 extension of Hofmann Drive through to Walter Hay Drive.
Proposed mitigation measures include:
         surveying trees along the covenant interface to ensure they have been considered within project
          design;
         retaining trees and other native vegetation where practicable between the proposed development at
          the internal loop road and the Hofmann Drive extension;
         upgrading a low lying flooded culvert to enable greater wildlife movement between Covenant J and
          Eenie Creek to the south;
         elevating the pedestrian link to minimise tree clearing within Covenant J and encourage wildlife
          movement;



December 2014                                         Cardno HRP                                                           63