MCU10/2083 Development Application part 2 - Attachment 3 - Architectural Design Report and Statement of Landscape Intent

Statement of Landscape Intent
Cardno-Splat


Landscape Character

Noosaville is a charming mix of residential and low key urban development. The streets are well vegetated,
mostly lined with mature street trees and feature extensive landscaping within the road reserves and
roundabouts. Local native Eucalypts and Melaleucas are the dominant tree species, with Pandanus used as a
feature tree, particularly in roundabouts and front gardens.

The town’s main urban centre lies to the north of the site, along Gympie Terrace and opposite the Noosa River.
Extensive riverside parklands line the Noosa River through Noosaville, featuring large and mature shade trees,
amenity buildings, open grass areas, picnic areas and direct views through to the river.

The site for the proposed retail centre is located on the corner of the arterial Gibson Road and local street
Skipper Place, south of Noosaville’s urban precinct. Diagonally opposite, and sharing the intersection, is a much
larger retail outlet and MacDonalds restaurant with extensive car parking to the Gibson Road frontage. The
car parking is buffered from the road through the use of canopy trees combined with low growing plants and
gardens to their base.

Gibson Road is well vegetated with street trees and extensive gardens in both the road reserve and adjacent
properties. This is a deliberate planning outcome that has been encouraged by Council. Most residences are
accessed from other local streets, which has enabled the establishment of extensive vegetative buffering to the
arterial road, and lending a canopy forest-like character to the local area. Similarly, Skipper place is lined with
closely planted Melaleuca and Eucalypts, effectively forming a small gateway into the adjacent residential area.

The proposed car parking will be located to the Gibson Road and Skipper Place frontage. The proposed retail
centre’s landscape will seek to retain the existing vegetation along these frontages, especially the mature
Eucalypts. Additional tree plantings will ensure adequate shade provision to the car park area. Gardens
are proposed to the site’s perimeter, to both road frontages and along its shared residential boundaries. It
is intended that the landscape development on the site will, over time, result in a well shaded and pleasant
shopping precinct that contributes positively to the vegetative character of the local area while providing the
visual exposure required by the retail outlets within the centre.


Visual Impacts

The retention of significant vegetation in the road reserves and on the periphery of the proposed car park
area will go a long way towards minimising the visual impact of the proposed development on the existing
streetscape and local area. Historically, the site has accommodated commercial / retail land uses, most recently
an established retail nursery. Therefore the visual impact of this new development on the street is unlikely to be
locally controversial. The site is not especially visible from scenic vantage points or other public spaces, such
that scenic amenity considerations will not apply to the site, with the exception of retaining existing canopy trees
where possible, and establishing a well shaded car parking area.


Landscape Buffers

Landscaping is required to buffer the adjacent residences from the activities in the proposed retail centre. The
landscape will consist of a two metre wide, slightly mounded planting area against the boundary fence, and
edged with a one metre wide pathway providing pedestrian access to the rear of the proposed retail centre. The
species used will need to include tall slender and bushy shrubs to act as a visual screen above the fence, and to
soften the impact of the fence on the narrow back-of-house zone associated with the residential development.
Species will be selected from Council species lists for the Open Forest/Woodland character area to ensure their
appropriateness to the site and soil conditions.




                                                                 STATEMENT OF LANDSCAPE INTENT    P1      Issue A 18/10/2010

DONOVAN HILL                                                                         THE HIVE Noosaville - 980