2014-12-09 Planning & Organisation Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                            9 DECEMBER 2014


2.   SITE DETAILS
2.1. Background
The existing wholesale nursery use on the site was approved by Council in 1997 (07818TP).

A series of pre-lodgement meetings, discussions and site inspections were held with the
applicant, commencing in September 2013. Council staff advised of the significant impediments
to gaining a self-contained RV Park approval on the site, in particular that the site is within a
mapped extractive resource buffer area to the adjacent quarry and therefore visitor
accommodation development was not consistent with The Noosa Plan. Other important issues
raised with the applicant included water quality, residential amenity and need.

The applicant commenced the use in approximately May 2014 prior to lodging a development
application. The site is listed as “Cooroy No Worries Caravan and Motor Home Parking” on the
Youcamp.com website, which states the site caters for “self-contained caravans, motor homes,
5th wheelers and small clubs”. Council received complaints and the applicant was advised to
cease the use or seek a development approval. Complainants have been advised that the
applicant has now sought a development permit and the matter is pending a decision on the
application.
2.2. Site Description
The site is generally rectangular in shape, has an area of 2.36ha and a 250m frontage to Holts
Road. The land falls approximately 10m from west to east but is almost entirely terraced with
gravel pads created for the nursery. Limited areas of mounded or sloping garden beds occur
around the perimeter of the site and between the terraced areas. A small house sits in the
middle of the lot and is surrounded by lawn and gardens. A caretaker’s cabin and number of
sheds associated with the nursery have also been established.

A dam constructed within an existing local drainage line sits at the bottom of the site along the
eastern boundary. The majority of the site drains into the dam via existing swales and pipework.
Overflow from the dam flows to the north toward the continuation of Holts Road parallel with the
highway. The site is located within the southern extent of the water supply catchment area for
Lake Macdonald.
2.3. Surrounding Land Uses
The site is surrounded by rural and rural settlement properties on a mix of lot sizes generally
containing a single detached house. Nandroya quarry pit (shale and clay) is on adjoining land to
the north. The quarry has recently been re-profiled and substantially rehabilitated and is not
being actively quarried but a mining lease remains in place.

The Bruce Highway is approximately 250m to the east of the site, with underpass and access
ramps located 1km to the north along Holts Road. The highway access and egress is currently
being upgraded as part of the highway upgrade works. A State owned industrial estate, known
as Nandroya Estate, sits 600m to the north between the site and the highway access. It
comprises 8 large industrial lots that are yet to be developed, though temporary engineering
offices associated with the highway upgrade currently occupy one lot.

A locality plan and aerial photograph of the site is shown below. Approximately 14 vans or RVs
are visible on the site in the photograph taken in September 2014.




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