Ozcare Noosa Minor Change v1

The assessment undertaken within the Bushfire Hazard Assessment & Management Plan concludes that “Overall,
the development proposed for the site, in combination with the recommendations referenced herein, is deemed
suitable with respect to providing a reasonable level of protection for people and property within the site”.
Pursuant to Schedule 1 of the Development Assessment Rules’ definition of ‘substantially different development’,
the proposed changes do not introduce new impacts or increase the severity of known impacts beyond the
acceptable criteria identified within the aforementioned assessment benchmarks. It should also be acknowledged
that the existing site / use is already subject to bushfire hazard and the proposed development including the
bushfire management clearing that has been undertaken reduces the extent of bushfire risk. It should also be noted
that the bushfire management clearing undertaken and proposed construction of the access track crossing on
Council’s land results in a benefit to the wider community and emergency services.



2.6       Ecology
The site is mapped containing local and state biodiversity interests as depicted by Figure 7 and Figure 8
respectively, which illustrate that the existing building footprint is already located within these mapped areas and
only a small number of trees are required to be removed as part of the proposed development, which for the most
part is occurring within the existing disturbed areas and the building footprint of the current aged care facility.
The Ecology Assessment Report attached as Attachment 6 has been prepared that identifies that the extent of
works is occurring in areas of the site that have been previously modified, and no conservation significant flora
specifies, on ground remnant regional ecosystems, or Threatened Ecological Communities under the EPBC will
be impacted by the works. The proposed works will require the removal of approximately 8 black she-oaks, but
given the abundance of feed trees within the locality this is considered highly unlikely to impact the viability of the
local glossy black cockatoo population.
The extent of vegetation to be impacted by the proposal could currently be cleared under existing local and state
governments exemptions for the purpose of bushfire management:
• ‘Exempt clearing’ as defined under the Noosa Plan 2020;
• Schedule 6 section 20A of the Planning Regulation 2017;
• Schedule 7 sections 12 and 13 of the Planning Regulation 2017;
• Schedule 21 of the Planning Regulation 2017; and
• ‘Exempt clearing work’ as defined under the Schedule 24 of the Planning Regulation 2017.
Nonetheless, a Vegetation and Fauna Management Plan will be prepared within a subsequent Operational Works
application for vegetation clearing, and planting occurring as part of the future landscaping will offset impacts to
vegetation. An assessment of the Biodiversity Overlay Code is included within the Ecology Assessment Report
demonstrating compliance.




80 Cooyar Street, Noosa Heads | 216575 DA | 7190526                                                                       11