2016-09-06 - Planning & Environment Committee Agenda

Page 99 of 118

Submitter comments
Mosquitoes                         Submitter would like Council to get rid of mosquitoes | Draining ponds in Wooroi Creek would do little to remove mosquitoes
                                   by draining ponds in Wooroi Creek                    from Noosa Parklands. Many more mosquitoes breed in leaf litter and
                                                                                        shallow ponds in Tewantin National Park and in tidal areas. Mosquitoes
                                                                                        can travel kilometres from their breeding area. Ponding in natural
                                                                                        waterways is a natural event and draining would impact on native
                                                                                        species that feed on mosquitos.
                                                                                        It is recommended that natural ponds are not drained in Wooroi Creek
                                                                                        and natural waterway processes are not interfered with.
Trees overhanging neighbouring | Resident would like to know who is responsible for | If a resident is concerned that a tree may be a risk they can lodge a
properties                         trees overhanging neighbouring properties            customer request and Parks and Natural Areas will inspect or engage an
                                                                                        arborist to assess the risk. Trees or branches that are deemed a hazard
                                                                                        are treated or removed.
Branches falling on fire trails    Concern that a branch may fall on someone using a | Parks and Natural Areas undertake an inspection of the fire trails 6 times
                                   fire trail                                           per year and arborists remove hazardous branches as required
Replacement     of   trees   that | Submitter concerned   that trees  are  not  being | Under Council’s Tree Management on Public Land Policy trees that are
damage infrastructure              replaced when removed                                removed should be offset. Council's arborist advises that this is currently
                                                                                        the practice.
Biodiversity Overlay and private | Clearing of vegetation on private land for mitigating | Resident may apply to Council to reduce fire hazard within the
land                               fire hazard is restricted by the Biodiversity Overlay Biodiversity Overlay
Implementation of Management | Concern that the actions in the Park Plan will not be | Implementation of Plan will be subject to Council approval and
Plan                               implemented                                          consideration of Shire-wide priorities within the capital and operational
                                                                                        budget. The Plan provides a stronger case for implementation of actions.
Creek is blocked with debris and | Creek should be cleaned out to stop ponding and | Debris such as palm fronds and branches and ponding in waterways is a
causing ponding                    mosquito breeding                                    natural event. Cleaning out the creek will not stop mosquitos in Noosa
                                                                                        Parklands. There are 8161 creeks in Noosa Shire and it is not practical
                                                                                        to clear out all creeks and such a practice risks washing sediment into
                                                                                        the Noosa River. ‘Cleaning out’ the creek is not supported. Keeping
                                                                                        bridges/boardwalks clear of debris for asset protection from fire is
                                                                                        recommended as part of fire trail maintenance program.
Pathways   in  some   areas  are | There are three pathway areas that are often under | Recommend that Council consider raising pathways (low boardwalk) in
under water for long periods after | water specifically 1) in the dip before bridge at Griffith | the first two locations an monitoring only in third location at this stage.
flood events                       Ave; 2) before last boardwalk on Billabong/Club Crt | Proposed works be included in the pathway asset management plan and
                                   walkway; 3)    opposite  western   end  of  lagoon | budget request.
                                   (Carramar St access)

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