Noosa Junction Association Submission suppport for RACV Noosa Resort

                                                                                                 Noosa Junction Association Inc.
                                                                                                 PO Box 1318
                                                                                                 NOOSA HEADS QLD 4567
                                                                                                 ABN: 81 677 152 078
                                                                                                 E: [email protected]

                                                                                                 February 3, 2023
The Assessment Manager
Noosa Council
Via Email: [email protected]

RE: Submission to support proposed Eco Villa Development - DA application no.: MCU22/0118

To whom it may concern,

On behalf of the Noosa Junction Association, we make the following submission to support our Noosa Junction
Member, RACV Noosa Resort, (Royal Automobile Clue of Victoria (RACV) Ltd) at 94 & 142 Noosa Drive Noosa
Heads in its submission lodged on 28 June, 2022 by Adamson Town Planning to develop 16 eco cabins and
swimming pool*. The reason for our support is threefold:

1.   Environment protection and long-term sustainability and management of threatened koala habitat. We
     are advised RACV Noosa has worked with a koala habitat expert, ecologist and arborist consultant over
     the past two years to ensure the proposed development can be integrated within the existing
     environment and will maintain important habitat (80% of the area) to provide healthy and safe habitat,
     vital to protecting the local koala population. The habitat area at the resort is home to Eucalyptus robusta
     – a known koala food tree and shelter resource - which has been overtaken by weeds, particularly
     frangipani vine (Chonemorpha fragrans). This vine is threatening the existing koala habitat by strangling
     the tree canopy and hindering their movement through the site. The remaining 20 per cent of the area will
     be converted with minimal ground disturbance, into an eco-tourism precinct consisting of 16 eco-friendly
     accommodation villas of elevated lightweight building design, and connected boardwalk, to provides for
     koala movement through the site. Without intervention, if left in its current state, the area will continue to
     degrade and the north-south avenue for movement of koalas through the site will diminish or be lost.
     Because the land is to be amalgamated and form part of the RACV Noosa Resort, the ongoing
     maintenance of the site will be properly funded and sustained in the long term.
2.   RACV Noosa Resort, is a significant economic contributor and ‘feeder of foot traffic’ to the Noosa
     Junction precinct with a high proportion of guests supporting and patronising our local businesses (their
     resort bus makes around 100,000 ‘guest trips’ annually from the RACV Noosa Resort to the Noosa
     Junction/Hastings Street). The proposal will provide a unique experience for eco-conscious visitors to
     enjoy Noosa and learn more about wildlife conservation, while providing additional jobs and
     accommodation capacity resulting in direct and indirect economic benefit to Noosa Junction.
3.   The proposal aligns with Noosa Junction’s own sustainability values. Having partnered with RACV Noosa
     Resort for the ZEN/Noosa Junction EV Expo for two consecutive years, we find the organisation to be well-
     credentialled and credible (Silver EarthCheck Accreditation) with a significant track record for
     conservation and sustainable practices.




David Langdon
President Noosa Junction Association
February 3, 2023




*Noting the swimming pool proposed is not on the proposed habitat area development site, but located within the existing central
facilities area, next to the existing pools.