2014-12-09 Planning & Organisation Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                9 DECEMBER 2014


Council’s Sport and Recreation and Strategic Planning Officers confirm that an active park would
benefit the development and the surrounding residents as there is no active park east of the
railway line. The Noosa Park Strategy 2006, the background document that informed the Priority
Infrastructure Plan, indicates that Cooroy has an oversupply of local parks. However, all active
parks are located on the western side of the railway line. The Noosa Park Strategy 2006
acknowledges the deficiency of local parks east of the railway and states:
“The existing town community is well serviced by existing local parks to the west of the railway
line although additional parks will be required as the town expands to the east and south east of
the rail corridor.”
Despite the acknowledged park deficiency east of the railway, no active park is identified in the
Priority Infrastructure Plan. The Noosa Parks Strategy 2006 also recommends a local park
should be provided to serve every 500 to 2500 people and be within 500m of their residences.
The closest active park east of the railway is the Botanical Gardens, approximately 2.5km from
the subject site. Apex Park, west of the railway, is approximately 1km from the subject site and
surrounding residences. The railway also acts a physical barrier to Apex Park for residents of
east Cooroy. Consequently, more than 1000 residents east of the railway line do not have an
active park within 500m of their residences.
Council’s Park Project Officer has provided an estimated cost of playground equipment as
proposed by the applicant. The proposed playground is determined to be generally equivalent to
the apportioned Park Contribution for the developments identified above.
The cost of the playground is proposed to directly offset the apportioned Park Contribution of the
Infrastructure Charges or, alternatively a refund of paid Park Contributions or a combination of
both. It has been confirmed by the Director of Corporate Services that amounts of up to $150,000
can be refunded in the December quarter of the following financial year after the completion of
works. Balance amounts of over $150,000 can be refunded in the December quarter in the
second financial year after completion of the works.
The Code requires either a Park Contribution be paid or an active Park provided in accordance
with the PIP. Given there is no active park (or planned) east of the railway, the applicants request
to provide an active park to offset the Park Contributions is supported.
The active Park can be delivered through an Infrastructure Agreement (IA) and Councils Priority
Infrastructure Plan as prescribed by the Sustainable Planning Act 2009. It is proposed the
majority of the Park embellishments will be provided prior to the sealing of the plans and the
remainder provided prior to sealing of the plans of the last subdivision of the 4 applications
identified above. As part of this subdivision the following embellishments will be provided:
    Natural play activity mound including the following equipment:
      o Slide
      o   Boulder steps
      o   Scramble wall
      o   Tyre steps
      o   Rope walk/climbing net
    Park signage and landscaping to the mound
    Raised meeting point
    Water connections
    Double swing
    Park shelters, settings and benches
Prior to the sealing of the last plan of subdivision the following embellishments will be provided:
    Flying fox
    Basket half court

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