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Cooran_Information Request Response_Final
Attached to the e-mail MCU15/0034 - Information Request Response.
Aurecon Australia Pty Ltd ABN 54 005 139 873 T +61 7 3173 8000 32 Turbot Street F +61 7 3173 8001 (Locked Bag 331 Brisbane QLD E [email protected] 4001) W aurecongroup.com Brisbane Queensland 4000 Australia 18 May 2015 Attn: Jack Lewis Noosa Council PO Box 141 TEWANTIN, QLD, 4565 Application Number: MCU15/0034 Response to Information Request for MCU15/0034 - Material Change of Use (Impact Assessable) for a ‘Service & Utility Type 3 Tower’ located at 249 Schreibers Road, Cooran QLD 4569 (Lot 12 on RP883248) I refer to your request for further information on 30 April 2015, in accordance with section 276 of the Sustainable Planning Regulation 2009, in relation to the proposed fixed wireless facility at 249 Schreibers Road, Cooran QLD 4569 (Lot 12 on RP883248). In accordance with section 278(1)(a) of the Sustainable Planning Regulation 2009, the following response to the requested information is provided below: Reasons for Approval Despite the Conflict with the Scheme Section 326(1)(b) of the Sustainable Planning Act 2009 seeks the assessment manager’s decision must not conflict with the Planning Scheme, unless there are sufficient grounds to justify the decision, despite the conflict. The Service & Utility Type 3 use is identified as an inconsistent use on the proposed site. 1. Please provide at least three succinct reasons for approval of the proposed development, despite this conflict with The Noosa Plan. Response NBN recognises that telecommunications is not specified as a consistent use within the ‘Rural Zone’ of the Noosa Plan, however NBN considers that Council should approve the proposed development for the following reasons: 1. In accordance with Council’s advice, NBN has in good faith investigated the feasibility of alternative sites adjacent to the HV towers off Schreibers Rd to service rural Cooran and has withdrawn the original Development Application (Coles Creek Road, Cooran – DA MCU13/0051). 2. NBN has demonstrated a record of real cooperation and flexibility with both Council and residents in Noosa Shire, and this approach is evident at Cooran, where alternative sites have been investigated in response to community feedback and Council’s advice, and NBN has now proposed an alternative site as per Council’s own request. This alternative location significantly reduces the overall visual impact of the proposal and therefore constitutes a more favourable development outcome for the entire community and ensures compliance with the Desired Environmental Outcomes of the Noosa Plan. 3. The proposed facility is considered to be appropriately sited to minimise visual impact and is not inconsistent with the current land uses of the area, where existing high voltage stanchions are located within the nearby Powerlink easement. 4. The proposed facility is offset from the community as much as possible (where only two residential dwellings are located within a 500 m radius of the facility). These setbacks, in conjunction with the mature vegetation and rolling topography that surrounds the proposed facility, will further reduce its visual impact on the natural landscape of the locality.
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5. The proposed facility is considered to meet the Desired Environmental Outcomes of the
Noosa Plan as the installation of the proposed facility will result in the introduction of the
National Broadband Network into the rural outskirts of Cooran. This will ultimately facilitate
opportunities for economic, commercial and tourism growth. In addition, the provision of
reliable broadband services will have a significant impact on the availability of good quality
communications for day-to-day life, in times of emergency and the general public safety of
residents. This is particularly important in rural based localities.
6. Finally, this location best balances the planning outcomes desired by the Noosa Council and
the Queensland planning laws with the service provision NBN Co is trying to deliver to the
rural residential areas of Cooran.
Visual Amenity
The Specific Outcome O39 of the Infrastructure Uses Code requires the proposed monopole is
visually integrated with its landscape so as not to be visually dominant or obtrusive.
1. Please provide a photomontage of the proposed monopole. The montage shall
superimpose the proposed pole’s height and bulk onto images taken from Schreibers Rd
(in front of the property entrance), and the intersection of Sankeys Rd and Brushbox Lane
looking towards the monopole.
Response
Two photomontages have been prepared (refer to Attachment A) to illustrate how the proposed
facility will appear when viewed from the following locations:
• Photomontage 1: (view looking south east towards the proposed facility from 249 Schreibers
Road near the property entrance - approximately 830 m separation distance)
• Photomontage 2: (view looking north west towards proposed facility from intersection of
Sankeys Road and Brushbox Lane – approximately 930 m separation distance)
Photomontage 1 illustrates a view looking south east towards the proposed facility from the site’s
frontage along Schreibers Road. This view demonstrates a similar view from nearby dwellings and
motorists travelling along Schreibers Road. As illustrated in Photomontage 1, when viewed from
Schreibers Road, the proposed facility will not detract from the character of the area as it will be
viewed in the context of the existing vertical structures such as the HV power stanchions, one of which
is located directly adjacent to Schreibers Road.
In addition, the proposed facility will be set back more than 440 m from the nearest homes located
along Schreibers Road and Sankeys Road, mitigating the likely appearance of the facility. These
setbacks, in conjunction with the nearby vegetation (approximately 20-25 m in height) and existence of
nearby HV Power Stanchions, will further mitigate visually obtrusive views towards the facility from the
closest dwellings.
Photomontage 2 illustrates a view looking north-west from the intersection of Sankeys Road and
Brushbox Lane. This view illustrates the already modified hilltop and existing HV Power Stanchion, in
conjunction with the considerable separation distance of over 900 m, which will minimise any potential
visual obtrusiveness of the facility when viewed from this location. It is noted that most dwellings
located south and east of the proposed facility, and along Sankeys Road, are also surrounded by
dense vegetation, and any views towards the facility would be intermittent at best.
It is therefore considered that the proposed facility meets Specific Outcome O39 of the Infrastructure
Uses Code, whereby the proposed facility is considered to successfully visually integrate with the
surrounding landscape. As further mitigation, it is our recommendation that the monopole be painted
‘pale eucalypt’ in order to blend with the mature vegetation on site and existing power poles. This is
requested to be conditioned by Council.
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Refer to Attachment A - Photomontages. Proposed Wireless Infrastructure Catchment Map Council requires confirmation of the area this tower is to service as part of the proposed NBN wireless network rollout. 2. Please provide a map showing the area/houses intended to utilise the proposed wireless infrastructure. In addition, include the proposed service area overlayed with topographical mapping and number of houses proposed to be serviced. Response NBN Co advises that there will be approximately 170 properties, households and businesses that will be serviced directly by the proposed facility at Cooran. NBN Co is unable to provide specific coverage maps to show which areas/houses will directly benefit from this service until the network has been physically built and tested as there may be areas/houses on the fringe that may alternatively benefit from the satellite service. Landscaping Plan A Landscaping Plan is required to be submitted to camouflage any proposed equipment shelters and the majority of the monopole’s height. Ideally trees will be able to achieve up to 20m+ in mature height, though inclusion of fast growing species is also desirable to achieve early visual screening. 3. Please provide a detailed landscaping plan, indicating vegetation buffers to be established at the base of the monopole. The plan shall be drawn up in accordance with The Noosa Plan’s Planning Scheme Policy 3 – Landscaping Plants and Guidelines and include appropriately selected tree species and understorey plantings to achieve dense visual screening of the monopole and associated equipment shelters. Landscape planting details and a minimum 12 month maintenance schedule shall also be included. Response NBN Co does not consider a landscaping plan is pertinent to the assessment of the application, especially in the proposed new location at 249 Schreibers Road, Cooran. Given the proposed location is within close proximity to existing mature vegetation (approximately 20-25 m in height), and the facility will be significantly setback from neighbouring homes and surrounding roads, considerable screening of the facility will be provided. Furthermore the proposed facility is located within a highly modified area, nearby HV Power Stanchions that are much closer to dwellings and roads. For these reasons, NBN Co does not consider a landscaping plan or conditions necessary for this site. Figures 1-3 illustrate the proposed compound area and existing nearby mature vegetation.
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Figure 1: NBN compound area and nearby mature vegetation (looking west) Figure 2: NBN compound area and nearby mature vegetation (looking east)
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Figure 3: NBN compound area and nearby mature vegetation (looking east)
Please also refer to amended Site Elevation Plan C4 that illustrates the correct nearby tree heights of
~20-25 m high at Attachment B – Amended Proposal Plans.
Co-location
Include confirmation that co-location by other network providers will be actively encouraged
4. Please provide details as to how other telecommunications providers will be facilitated
and encouraged to co-locate other wireless antennas on the proposed monopole.
Response
NBN Co has established and put in place a number of framework agreements with third party mobile
network operators which outlines the process and procedures in relation to co-location on NBN Co’s
network infrastructure sites. These agreements address operational, commercial and technical
requirements for all incoming site share requests.
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5. A Written Undertaking that the facility will be made available for the mounting of other communication providers’ antennas and that no restrictive provisions form part of any contract, agreements or other documentation associated with the development. Response It is a requirement under the Telecommunications Act that all telecommunication providers make their facilities available for the purposes of collocation. In addition to this, the framework agreement allows telecommunication provider’s to co-locate their equipment on NBN Co’s facilities and NBN Co is able to work with the other mobile carriers to ensure where possible the facilities can be readily accessed to improve mobile coverage. NBN Co considers the information above adequately addresses each matter within the information request. Should you have any questions regarding any of these matters, please do not hesitate to contact Claire Harris on 3173 8738 or alternatively by e-mail [email protected] if you require further information. Yours Sincerely, Lisa Shields Project Manager Attachment A: Photomontages 3 pages Attachment B: Amended Proposal Plans 4 pages