2014-07-22 Planning & Organisation Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                      22 JULY 2014


The proposal is consistent with the higher order plans and policies. The subject site is
located in the Mary River Catchment Locality and is zoned Rural by The Noosa Plan.

The proposed use is identified as inconsistent within the zone and required to follow an
impact assessable application process. While the whole of the planning scheme is
applicable, the following codes and policies are most relevant to the application:

   Mary River Catchment Locality Code
   Planning Scheme Policy 23 – Telecommunication Towers
   Infrastructure Uses Code

The pertinent issues arising out of the assessment are discussed below.

Code                   Discussion
Mary River             The proposed Infrastructure Use - Service & Utility Type 3 (Tower) is
Catchment              identified as an inconsistent use within the Rural zone. The proposal
Locality Code          is required to be assessed against the Overall Outcomes of the
                       Code. The relevant outcomes seek for structures to not visually
                       dominate the street, surrounding spaces or the existing skyline.

                       The proposed 31m high tower is located within the middle of the
                       existing Graham’s farm, adjacent to existing 25m high mature trees.
                       The siting of the structure is more than 270m away from the closest
                       residential dwelling and more than 560m away from Grahams Road.

                       The applicant indicates they have reduced the height and relocated
                       the infrastructure closer to the existing vegetation, as a direct
                       response to the community consultation which was carried out. The
                       changes reduce the visual bulk of the tower when viewed from
                       surrounding spaces, and is consistent with the Outcomes of the
                       Locality Code.
Planning Scheme        Section 3.2 & 3.4 of the Policy outlines matters for consideration
Policy 23 -            when assessing proposals for towers. The most applicable points
Telecommunication      associated with the assessment of this proposal are:
Towers
                              3.2 a) Loss of vegetation on steep slopes or ridgelines; or

                              3.2 b) Visual scaring or the degradation of views or vistas
                              from the major road network; or

                              3.2 c) Alteration to key landform and landscape characters
                              such that they become dominated by the facility.

                              3.4 d) Be positioned to minimise clutter of multiple facilities.

                              3.4 e) Impact on views to and from waterways, beaches and
                              riparian zones.

                       No removal of vegetation or alteration to the landforms is required for
                       the 80m2 lease area. The existing vegetation surrounding the
                       infrastructure assists in screening the tower, while the monopole will
                       not be readily seen from the major road network. As a result, the
                       proposal meets the Outcomes of the Policy.




                                                                                     Page 31 of 133