2020-02-11 Planning & Environment Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                            11 FEBRUARY 2020


       The existing service would also need to be interrupted to allow for the installation of a new
         facility at this location.
It is acknowledged that the nature of this facility demands that a line of sight must be achieved in
order to provide connection to the service.
The applicant’s proposed use of colour to help camouflage the tower is considered to have variable
effect. It is noted, that the existing Telstra Tower is sited approximately 10 metres from Tablelands
Road downslope of the proposed tower and is painted a similar colour to the proposed. At close
range it is difficult to distinguish the tree trunks from the tower monopole. When viewed from below,
the existing tower is visible, but is integrated into the visual setting as the overall extent of the tower
does not extend into the skyline.
The greatest visual amenity impact by the proposed tower is from viewpoints located closer to the
proposal site; at elevations above it where a vegetation backdrop is very distant; or from lower
elevations where the height extends into the skyline. Where there is a reasonable distance
between the receptor and the proposed tower, it is generally not visually dominant but can be
considered obtrusive when viewed in closer proximity.
Planning Scheme Policy 23 - Telecommunication Towers
The key points of PSP23 relevant to the proposal are outlined in Table 1.
Table 1: Assessment against PSP23
     Policy                                                 Assessment

     Council is unlikely to support proposals that result   The proposed tower is located on a ridgeline and
     in the following:                                      will be seen above the existing treeline from some
     a) Loss of vegetation on steep slopes or               vantage points. The proposal has been designed to
           ridgelines, or                                   minimise vegetation clearing.
     b) Visual scarring or degradation of views or          Impacts on vegetation are not considered
           vistas from the major road network; or           significant.
     c) Loss of distinct character associated with the      The proposed tower would be located in a
           various towns, villages or rural areas; or       predominantly rural catchment. It will be viewed
                                                            from multiple locations, with varying degrees of
     d) Alteration to key landform and landscape
                                                            impacts.
           characters such that they become dominated
           by the facility;
     e) Impact on views to and from waterways,
           beaches and riparian zones.
     Wherever practical, towers should:                     The tower is not visible from the James McKane
     a) Maintain the integrity of landmarks and             Memorial Lookout, due to the orientation of the land
         places of significance;                            and viewshed.
     b) Avoid interrupting significant views;               The proposed tower is generally screened by
                                                            vegetation or has some vegetation backdrop as
     c) Be architecturally integrated with the building
                                                            viewed from some vantage points, with the
         or structure they are mounted on;
                                                            exception of a proposed house site located at 298
     d) Be positioned to minimise clutter of multiple       Tablelands Rd. On that site the proposed tower
         facilities;                                        interrupts a significant viewshed from the proposed
     e) Be colour matched to their background, using        house site. The tower is also likely to be visible from
         no reflective paint;                               the proposed house site at 410 Tablelands Road.
     f)  Be at least partially screened by vegetation;      The structure will be seen from Trails 2 & 3 in the
     g) Be positioned and designed to be less visible       Noosa Trail Network, which is utilised by locals and
         by pedestrians.                                    visitors travelling by foot, horse or bicycle, and will
                                                            generally have a vegetated backdrop. It should be
                                                            noted that an assessment from every part of the trail
                                                            has not been conducted, so there may be areas
                                                            where a vegetated backdrop may not be the case.
                                                            Vegetation around the NBN tower location will be
                                                            largely retained.

                                                                                                 Page 14 of 119