Town Planning Report · MCU18/0015

Town Planning Report                                                                              January 2018


         renders of the proposed development from various viewpoints to demonstrate that the units will
         blend with the landscape. Muted colours and materials are proposed to ensure the built form
         presentation of the units and detached houses blend with the surrounding environment.


     4. In preparing the proposed development design, the applicant commissioned a full suite of technical
         assessments including geotechnical, engineering and environmental to site specifically ground
         truth the site’s constraints. These reports are included at Attachments 4, 5 and 6 conclude that the
         proposed development has been aligned to the least constrained parts of the land and the site can
         be safely and responsibly developed.


    For the above reasons it is considered that the proposed development is a suitable design response to
    the site’s topography and environmental conditions and the population density of the proposed
    development is appropriate and suitable.

    Council meeting comment - The site is also identified as containing vegetation worthy of environmental
    protection by the Biodiversity Overlay. The Natural Hazards Overlay identifies the site as being within a
    medium bushfire prone area and containing areas subject to landslide hazard. The site is also identified
    by State mapping as containing remnant vegetation and of concern regional ecosystem, with essential
    habitat on the site. It is also clear that the site is a critical link between vegetation along Weyba Creek
    (fronting the Settlers Cove development) and vegetation on the Peppers site and linking up to the
    National Park. Further, previous fauna surveys found a species Ophioscincus truncates listed as Rare in
    the Native Conservation (Wildlife) Regulation 1994. This animal is a reptile, being a burrowing species of
    skink. Another significant species found on site was the grey headed flying fox, Pteropus poliocephalus.


    Town Planning Comment – under the Biodiversity Overlay, the subject site is mapped as being affected
    by an “Environmental Protection Area” and a “Watercourse”. A site specific Ecological Assessment has
    been prepared for the proposed development concept and is included at Attachment 6. This assessment
    was prepared using a variety of investigations including on site surveys and desktop analysis. The report
    determines that the proposed development has been sited on parts of the land containing least
    environmental values. Rehabilitation works on site are expected to enhance the existing areas of the
    site to be retained and encourage movement opportunities through the environmental corridor. Under
    the Natural Hazards Overlay, the subject site is mapped as being partially affected by a small area of Low
    Potential Acid Sulfate Soils and a small part of the site is included within the Medium Bushfire Hazard
    Area. The majority of the proposed development is sited outside these mapped overlays. In relation to
    the part of the land that is mapped as ‘Landslide Hazard’ a site specific geotechnical assessment has
    been prepared (refer to Attachment 5) to determine that the proposed development can be constructed
    safely and sensitively without adversely affecting the stability of the land. Therefore it is considered that




Combined MCU and ROL proposal                                                                    Page 8 of 28