2023-03-07 Planning & Environment Meeting Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                      7 MARCH 2023


   j)   Houses or outbuildings may be available for short term guests where there is no resultant
        changes to the rural amenity or rural production of the area.
Unlike the Low Density Residential, Medium Density Residential and High Density Residential
zone Codes, the Rural Zone Code does not reference these areas as being predominantly home
to permanent residents.
The proposal has been reviewed against the Rural Zone Code which details that development is
to be compatible with agriculture and protect the environmental and landscape values. The
proposal is consistent with the code as the land is not identified as good agricultural land by the
Agricultural Land Conservation Area and is unlikely to detract from the rural amenity of adjoining
properties given it is located over 130m from the nearest dwellings with on-site vegetation
screening the dwelling and associated pool and deck areas. Refer figure 5 below.




                           Figure 5 – Subject site and surrounding properties.

The Assessment table of the Rural Zone code that details Short Term Accommodation is a
consistent code assessable use within a dwelling house of no more than five bedrooms. The
applicant originally sought approval to use the existing bedrooms and media room of the dwelling
for accommodation for up to 10 guests which is consistent with the assessment table of the Rural
zone, however reduced the number of guests to 8 during assessment of the proposal.
The proposal has been reviewed against the Visitor Accommodation Code and is consistent with
this code’s requirements. The existing dwelling is sited to avoid conflicts with nearby sensitive land
uses, has a site area of more than 4ha and is located within an existing dwelling with no clearing
of existing vegetation to accommodate the use. The accommodation will not overlook the living
areas of neighbouring properties due to existing vegetation and the location of the dwelling to the
rear of the site and maintains the privacy and amenity of the area. The site has sufficient area
available on site for car parking and waste storage.
To ensure the potential impacts of noise are minimised, conditions are recommended to be
imposed including a limit on the number of guests to 8 at any one time, restriction of the use of
outdoor areas after 10pm and a requirement to maintain a register of complaints.
Overall, the proposed use is considered to align with the intent of the Rural Zone Code and the
Visitor Accommodation Code and provides short term accommodation that maintains the viability
of rural activities on the site and the surrounding area.

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