MCU12_0184_Letter

Ross Barber
PO Box 122
Cooroy QLD 4563

31/7/2013

Councillor Tony Wellington
Sunshine Coast Regional Council
Locked Bag 72
SCMC 	QLD		4560

Re: MCU 12/0184

Dear Councillor

I wish to express my concerns and objection in respect of the proposed Material Change of Use associated with the property known as Lot 136 Top Forestry Road, Ridgewood.

The proposed development raises numerous serious issues, which I consider should deem the proposal totally unacceptable. I have outlined several of the more serious issues relating to traffic and environmental aspects below for your consideration in your assessment process.

Traffic

The proposed development will introduce B Double transport vehicles onto the local road network. The local road network consists of sealed residential area and rural area roads and unsealed rural area roads. The potential impacts of additional heavy and long vehicles on these roads would include:

Upgrade costs to local roads network to facilitate their use  by long and heavy vehicles at a cost to council and ratepayers
Additional local roads network maintenance costs to council and ratepayers
Increased noise from long and heavy vehicles on residential streets and rural roads
Introduction of additional long and heavy vehicles onto local roads servicing schools, hospital and medical facilities
Potential safety issues related to long and heavy vehicle interacting with local traffic on local roads which provide little or no safe isolation areas in the event of a mechanical failure or accident or inadequate entry or egress points.

The posted speed limit on Belli Creek / Cooroy road, Old Ceylon and Top Forestry Road is 80kph and not the 60kph as stated in the proposal.

2.	Environmental

The proposed development will introduce numerous potential environmental  impacts on the immediate area including

Possible transfer of disease to and from native wildlife from the proposed waste holding and treatment areas

Increased potential for negative impacts from soil erosion and compromise of water courses from earthworks, construction activities, heavy traffic movements associated with the development of the infrastructure required during both the construction and operation phases of the proposed development.

Increased potential for negative impacts from dispersal of waste materials and associated chemicals or pathogens into adjacent properties and water courses during heavy rainfall events.

	It should be noted that rainfall recorded on our property, which is approximately 800 metres to the south of the proposed development, for the period 24/1/2013 to 14/4/2013 was 1,554 mm, an average of 500mm per month.

Leaching. concentration and retention of odours associated with the operation of the development to lower and less well ventilated areas such as the valleys which surround the site.

I consider that the small example of issues highlighted above demonstrates the potential seriousness and negative impacts that will be associated with the proposed development, should it be approved.

There are numerous other factors including health, safety, socio /economic, amenity, lifestyle, animal welfare, community and sustainability which would also experience negative impacts from the proposal.

I believe that the abovementioned issues and risks associated with the proposal demonstrate why it should not be approved.

Yours faithfully

Ross Barber