2014-09-16 Planning & Organisation Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                         16 September 2014


Omissions in the traffic report relating to        Council’s traffic specialist indicates that while one
data used and assumptions. While one week          week of data does not provide a true representation
of data is not representative of yearly traffic.   of the seasonal fluctuations, based on the number of
                                                   houses and uses on the road, the survey is fairly
                                                   consistent with vehicle movements on similar roads.
Traffic Upgrading                                  There are a variety of “standards” which have been
• DTMR recommends 8m wide unsealed                 defined at different times by different agencies.
   roads.                                          Normally, the Austroads standards would be easily
• Two B-doubles will not be able to pass           the most reliable, but it is not clear that the published
   each other as part of the proposed works        standards take adequate account of heavy vehicle
   causing a safety issue for other users.         proportions or vehicle operating speeds (or even the
• The option of having a one way section           length of the route). As a result, Council’s traffic
   of Top Forestry Road would make the             engineer has based the assessment of road
   road worse.                                     requirements for the development on the standards
                                                   listed below:
                                                   - 1989 Austroads Rural Road Design Guide;
                                                   - 2003 Austroads Rural Road Design Guide;
                                                   - 2009 ARRB Unsealed Roads Manual;
                                                   - 2009 Austroads Guide to Road Design Part 3;
                                                   - Eastern      Downs       Regional      Roads     Group
                                                      Configuration Standards (current)
No route specified for the waste trucks.           It is anticipated the waste trucks would travel the
                                                   marked haul route to the Bruce Highway.
Vegetation removal along the Top Forestry          Geotechnical testing would be necessary to ensure
Road reserves would destabilise banks and          that the full width of the road formation is capable of
increase dust nuisance.                            carrying the traffic loading and not, for example
                                                   relatively loose fill material that has accumulated
                                                   over time. Confirmation would also be required of
                                                   slope stability on any cut batters. Drainage is also
                                                   typically a critical factor impacting on the risk of
                                                   landslip in mountainous terrain. It is noted that limited
                                                   consideration has been given to this factor. There is
                                                   also a need to consider the warrants for guard rail
                                                   due to height/slope factors and roadside obstacles
                                                   within the road reserve (i.e. trees).
No discussion about the dust issues from           From a safety, maintenance and amenity point of
the 26 truck movement days. Heavy vehicles         view, the proposed development impacts would
cannot be considered the same as an                require Top Forestry Road to be sealed. This would
ordinary vehicle and cause more of a noise,        eliminate the impact of dust nuisance. However,
and dust nuisance.                                 noise impacts associated with heavy vehicles using
                                                   the haul route at night are likely to unreasonably
                                                   affect the amenity of residents on the route.
Other
It is not possible to apply reasonable and         Agree.
relevant conditions to minimise impacts to
neighbours.
Impacts on the waterways.                          The proposal includes concrete shed flooring and
                                                   storm water treatment to hardstand areas. As a
                                                   result, it is unlikely the development will have any
                                                   significant impacts on the quality of the surrounding
                                                   waters.
Reduced house prices and incompatible with         These matters are not planning matters for
Noosa’s Biosphere status.                          assessment.
                                      2
Inhumane development (16.7 birds per m ).          These matters are regulated by the Department of
                                                   Forestry and Fisheries and Biosecurity agencies, and
                                                   not local government.




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