2022-10-11 Planning & Environment Meeting Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING REPORT                               11 OCTOBER 2022


Koala Mapping
The site is mapped as containing Core Koala Habitat as detailed in figure 5 below. In accordance
with the Planning Regulation 2017, development interfering with koala habitat area is assessable
development and requires assessment against the State Development Provisions. The Outcomes
of the State Code require development to not cause an unacceptable impact on mapped habitat
areas and not result in a significant residual impact unless an offset is provided. Assessment
against the Sate Code is not required where the development is carried out in accordance with an
existing development approval.
The owner of the site paid a contribution to Council in 2013 to offset the removal of Koala habitat
trees associated with the development approval. A review of the current State Code and
preliminary discussions with the State Government indicate that the State Code does not reference
previous offset requirements and therefore any new development will need to be address the
current State Code.




                             Figure 5- Koala Habitat Area (State mapping)

Bushfire
A Fire Management Plan (FMP) was prepared in 2005 for the original Settlers Cove masterplan
development and the Plan has not been updated. It is noted that no specific Bushfire Assessment
was undertaken for the proposed resort application as the development was considered to be
consistent with the approved FMP over the entire area.
The Bushfire mapping for the site has changed since approval of the original FMP with the mapped
area extending further southwards and being increased from Medium Potential Bushfire Intensity
(Superseded Noosa Plan 2006) to High Potential Bushfire Intensity (Noosa Plan 2020).
Council has engaged an external bushfire consultant who has reviewed the 2005 Fire Management
Plan and advised that the FMP is not satisfactory, with the advice including the following:
1    The Settlers Cove development abuts a large, vegetated area of mixed vegetation
     communities including sedgelands, disturbed Melaleuca quinquenervia wetlands and small
     patches of Eucalyptus robusta, Syncarpia glomulifera and Melaleuca quinquenervia open
     forest to woodland.
2    Under the current Noosa Plan (2020) all of the surrounding lots are zoned, or include,
     Environmental Management and Conservation Zone.



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