PM Submission Object - Lin Martin of Behalf Veggie Village MCU16/0153 & REC16/0041

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            Veggie Village Community Garden
            Objection to the Scanlon Group Development Proposal

            Patrick Murphy
            Assessment Officer, Noosa Shire Council
            [email protected]

            Dear Mr Murphy,
            File No MCU 16/153 REC 16/0041
            Postal Address 215 David Low Way, PEREGIAN BEACH
            Proposed Development Multiple Housing-Type 4, Visitor Accommodation

            1) This Material Change of use Application contravenes the Noosa Town Plan & will destroy Peregian’s point
            of difference & the attraction of our village for residents, holiday makers & shoppers. The Caravan Park
            amenity, that was the real ‘essence’ of Peregian village, will be replaced by urban density with scarce
            landscaping to soften the architectural bulk & concrete structures.

            2) There’s No Compliance with Noosa Council requirements with most the accommodation proposed for
            Permanent Housing. Priced from $725,000 to $850,000, this proposal hardly provides low cost visitor
            accommodation for the needs of this community nor the wider Noosa Shire. Peregian Beach has already
            been adversely impacted by nearby ‘new’ small lot housing developments that lack public amenity, open
            space & village lifestyle. Low cost accommodation for campers & RVs would be an acceptable community
            solution, celebrating the open space & providing a beach holiday experience for all.

            3) Setbacks in general & to the Rufous laneway impinge on Noosa’s Master Plan for Rufous St Renewal which
            is currently in progress, community amenity values & the extensive community consultation process
            intended to activate the Bush to Beach pathway upgrade & encourage increased usage. The leafy ambience
            planned for both Rufous laneway & Pocket Park to encourage parking & pedestrian access to the village
            would be greatly compromised by the 2m proximity & 7m height of the proposed Reed & Wallum buildings,
            on top of whatever level of fill is added to natural ground level.

            4) The Development’s significant impact on the Creek & Wetland, both during construction & upon
            completion is of tremendous concern, as is the planned density of housing on top of & beside this
            ecologically sensitive reserve, adjacent Noosa National Park – Emu Swamp Section. The natural spring,
            recognised in the 1960s & probably for thousands of years by our indigenous forebears, known locally as
            Little Rufous Creek creates a watercourse that feeds into the wetland & contributes to its ecological value.

            Some 25,000 cubic metres of imported fill will be required, giving rise to 150 trips per day for at least 3
            months. This means one heavy vehicle axle load every 3-4 minutes along David Low Way, down Sandpiper
            Court, through the IGA carpark & then back out via the Heron St roundabout. The impacts of such large
            amounts of fill, will create fragmentation & attrition of the watercourse, its habitat values & biodiversity - an
            environmental injustice for Qld Govt’s identified Mandatory Essential Habitat.




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Document Set ID: 20307265
Version: 1, Version Date: 24/04/2017

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            There is no reference in the DA to the planned disturbance to essential wetland habitat for the vulnerable
            Wallum Froglet (Crinia tinnula), Wallum Rocketfrog (Litoria freycinet), Wallum Sedgefrog (Litoria
            oblongburensis), nor the impact on wetland heathland & sedgeplain, inhabited by the vulnerable Ground
            Parrot (Pezoporus wallicus) recorded less than 500ms from the site.

            5) Significant & continuous Noise & Disruption to homes along David Low Way, adjoining streets, laneway,
            PB Hotel, Hardware store, business & private premises near the roadways & roundabout is guaranteed. The
            impact will be to the detriment of acoustic & visual qualities, lifestyle, holiday village ambience & business,
            especially the al fresco dining/coffee shops that all enjoy fresh air & ocean sounds.

            6) Substantially Increased Traffic & Congestion is assured during construction as standing traffic queues
            currently form at all accesses to the roundabout, particularly at daily peak times, exacerbated further during
            school & public holidays. The proposed development risks being a serious source of additional congestion &
            given the layout/landform, nigh on impossible to mitigate in the future.

            7) Foreground Vistas of the wetland & its vegetation across Noosa National Park-Emu Swamp Section to Mt
            Cooroy will be diminished, in fact lost, to the bulky Hotel/Motel building’s projected heights. Council needs
            to ensure height specifications are accurate & the current expansive views are maintained. Here’s an
            opportunity to protect & showcase the intent of Noosa’s logo ‘Different by Nature’ by altering design or
            lowering the amount of fill to protect the invaluable amenity of open space & ‘community vistas’.

            8) Other concerns include density of buildings & infrastructure within the precinct, the provision of scarce
            green space/vegetation/shade, preferred orientation to sunlight & natural breezes, the provision of public
            access pathway between two story buildings, with little to recommend passive surveillance, particularly at
            night. Light pollution is a further issue as every new light bulb impacts adversely on Peregian’s disappearing
            night sky, particularly of concern with the density planned for this site.

            9) So many missed opportunities to work with community in consultation with Noosa Council’s Master Plan
            for Rufous St & the adjoining laneway to add to the amenity. The north-western corner’s existing vegetation
            could have seen the creation of green space/parkland to embellish the precinct for visitors & local
            community with potential to make genuine connections between Rufous St /laneway with this development.
            Instead, it separates itself from the village feel, in fact opposes the local residential community & village
            activities associated with the function & interaction of Veggie Village, Tennis Club, Kindergarten &
            Community House, all nearby neighbours of the planned development.

            This proposal conflicts with community values, endorsed by all who reside & those who choose this relaxed
            pedestrian location, where thongs, even bare feet are the norm. It delivers instead, undesirable urban
            density & city lifestyle that’s aesthetically at odds with Peregian’s much sought after open space linkages,
            relaxed village character & community engagement.

            Lin Martin on behalf of Veggie Village Community Gardens, Rufous St, [email protected]




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Document Set ID: 20307265
Version: 1, Version Date: 24/04/2017