2021-12-07 Planning & Environment Committee Meeting Agenda - Updated

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                   7 DECEMBER 2021


corporate is responsible for the management of the warning system. The current application does
not provide for a community title arrangement or include a flood warning system for residents to
decide whether to shelter in place or evacuate from the site. This is considered important given
the site becomes isolated for up to 3 days.
The applicant’s proposal that a condition be included for all future dwellings have a habitable floor
level, as opposed to all floor levels, above the PMF also raises concern. Whilst the applicant
proposes the raised level to allow for safe congregation and refuge it is considered that all floor
levels should be located above the PMF again because the site becomes isolated for up to 3 days.
It would not be acceptable for occupiers of a dwelling to be limited to an upper level of their dwelling
whilst the ground level was flooded as it is anticipated that the lower level would include facilities
that would be relied upon during extended occupancy of the dwelling. A condition could be included
requiring all floor levels to be above the PMF.
The application material demonstrates that the extent of fill will generally range from 800mm to
1.8 metres to achieve house pad levels above 2.3m AHD.
It is recognised that the extent of fill will result in an elevated platform on which future development
will be constructed. The platform will result in the future dwellings being elevated higher above the
natural ground level than surrounding dwellings to meet the PMF and may appear out of character
with the area. However, it is acknowledged that this methodology was accepted in the settlement
of a recent appeal at 135 Lake Weyba Drive.
The proposed extent of earthworks includes filling the full width of the site and accordingly the
applicant proposes retaining walls to the front and side boundaries. The retaining walls at the front
boundary generally range between 800mm and 1.5m in height. A retaining wall is also proposed
to most of the northern boundary, where abutting the National Park, generally ranging in height
from 1.5 – 1.8m. This differs from the outcome achieved at 135 Lake Weyba Road which mostly
avoided large retaining walls by requiring batters. A condition could be included to require the
development to include batters.
The following image details the location of the retaining walls (red line).




                                Figure 7 – Location of retaining walls



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