2015-09-15 Planning & Organisation Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                              15 SEPTEMBER 2015


Planning Performance Bond
A planning performance bond is imposed on all Material Change of Use and Reconfiguring a Lot
applications, which seek to have the developer carry out works, or conduct construction and
development in accordance with the approved plans. The planning performance bond provides
security in the form of a cash bond or trading bank guarantee in achieving compliance with
development approvals and is imposed in accordance with Planning Scheme Policy No. 7 –
Performance Bonds. The level of bonding is based on the nature of development conditions with
regard to the critical site attributes, the importance in planning, environmental and engineering in
terms of the Council requirements, the scale of the specific matters requiring security, the likely
degree of community concern should a breach occur and remedial action which may be required
should a breach occur.
The bond is to provide the developer with an incentive to develop in accordance with the conditions
of approval. Some common examples may include retention of trees or vegetation or construction
of the development in accordance with the approved plans. Very often, in the view of the
community, these circumstances are critical to satisfactory development being achieved. The
planning performance bond is not intended to cover actual costs of works.
The planning performance bond is not returned until the development is fully compliant, with the
bond only released in part where the approval specifically contemplates a staged development.


Breaches of The Noosa Plan
Breaches of the planning scheme and development approvals are inspected on receipt of a
written complaint received by Council, unless there is a significant safety or environmental impact
arising from the breach. There is currently a good rate of success in resolving breaches.
However, some matters do take time to resolve and in some instances may require input from
Council’s solicitor.


Advertising Devices
Advertising devices in the Shire are currently audited on the basis of identifying a newly erected
non-compliant sign by Council’s Development Compliance Officer, officers in the section, local
laws officers, Councillors and the general public. Since the reformation of Noosa Council in 2014,
an audit has been undertaken each year of signage regulated by Council’s local laws including
A-frames and real estate signage. However, no Shire wide audit has been undertaken of signage
regulated by the planning scheme.
While the current approach has addressed many non-compliant signs, over the last 6 years there
has been a noticeable increase in the non-compliant signage erected in the Shire, particularly in
the Noosaville industrial area. To address this matter, a survey of the advertising devices is likely
to be required in the future, similar to the survey and register exercise undertaken recently of all
Noosaville industrial area businesses. Subdued, low key and small scale signage that does not
dominate the surrounding built and natural landscape is a critical element in maintaining the
character of Noosa’s urban areas.




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