MCU22/0118 – DEVELOPMENT APPLICATION FOR A MATERIAL CHANGE OF USE – SHORT-TERM ACCOMMODATION AT 94 & 142 NOOSA DR, NOOSA HEADS (Referred from Planning & Environment Committee dated 7 November 2023 - Item 5.1) · ATTACHMENT 1 – OFFICER’S REPORT

 (e) maintaining stream integrity and bank (b) a wetland area; and
     stability by minimising bank erosion and (c) 10 metres either side of the centre line of
     slumping;                                    any other waterway identified on a
 (f) maintaining water quality through filtering  Biodiversity, Waterways and Wetlands
     sediments, nutrients and other pollutants;   Overlay Map.
     and
 (g) removing pest species and replacing them
     with local native species.

 Assessment
 Portions of the development, including Cabins 2-7 and the bioretention basin, are located within
 the riparian buffer area, as well as mapped areas of Matters of State Ecological Significance
 (MSES), high ecological significance wetland and MSES declared high ecological value waters
 (wetland). The applicant indicates that the development footprint has been designed in this way
 to avoid further koala habitat clearing. It is acknowledged that portions of the area within the
 riparian buffer area have been historically disturbed (circa 1980), with some historical
 infrastructure still present on site (rock wall, concrete, fill). Regardless of historical disturbance,
 the development significantly intensifies development within a mapped riparian buffer area which
 is directly adjacent to Weyba Creek Bushland Reserve North, which drains to the Noosa River.
 The development significantly increases the development footprint of RACV Noosa Resort and
 will result in clearing in areas currently vegetated, (including within the riparian buffer area), a
 reduction in the width of the terrestrial habitat within the riparian zone, and a reduction of the
 width of the wildlife corridor and connecting habitat.
 It is noted that Noosa Plan 2020 seeks rehabilitation works within mapped riparian buffer areas
 in accordance with AO6.2. The applicant has provided a Rehabilitation Plan that includes
 rehabilitation planting in the riparian buffer area. The proposal includes several ‘zones’ of
 rehabilitation planting, with species appropriate for each area proposed. Council’s Senior
 Environment Officer has reviewed the Rehabilitation Plan and confirmed the proposed species
 are appropriate for rehabilitating a riparian buffer area.
 Although it is noted that rehabilitation works are proposed within the buffer, the proposal does
 not avoid development in a riparian buffer area and wetland area, as required by PO6. Given
 the site has an area of approximately 3800m2 that is not mapped as riparian buffer area, it is
 considered that development within the riparian area can and should be avoided. The submitted
 application material therefore does not sufficiently demonstrate compliance with Performance
 Outcome PO6 of the Biodiversity, Waterways and Wetlands Overlay Code.


Koala Habitat
The subject site is mapped as being a Koala Habitat Area under both Noosa Plan 2020 and under
the Southeast Queensland Koala Conservation Strategy mapping administered by the Department
of Environment & Science (DES).
The following Acceptable and Performance Outcomes of the Biodiversity, Waterways and
Wetlands Overlay Code are relevant to the development:

 Performance Outcomes                                Acceptable Outcomes

 PO11                                                AO11.3
 Development is designed, constructed and Development is designed to maximise and
 operated to—                                     enhance connectivity between koala habitat
                                                  trees and ensure safe koala movement.
 (d) protect and enhance koalas and koala
     habitat and avoid adverse impacts;
 (e) provide measures to assist the survival of
     koala populations in the area to mitigate
     any potential threats or risk to koalas; and



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