2022-09-06 Planning & Environment Meeting Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                           6 SEPTEMBER 2022


The applicant proposes that the full extent of the riparian buffer should not be protected by a
vegetation covenant, however officers do not agree or support the protection of only a 10m strip
along the waterway. Officers consider that the entire mapped riparian buffer on the western side
of the waterway should be protected by a covenant, whilst allowing a 10m buffer on the western
side.
This is considered reasonable for the following reasons:
a)       The lot is surrounded by large tracts of Core Koala Habitat Area including south and north of
         the mapped waterway. This waterway provides an important ecological linkage for Koala
         (and other fauna) movement with Koalas now being listed as endangered by the Federal
         Government requiring protection and rehabilitation.
b)       This would be consistent with the agreed requirements for 23 Jirrima Crescent which was
         the subject of a recent appeal.




     Figure 6 – Extent of covenant (highlighted) and revegetation areas at 23 Jirrima – adjacent to subject site.

The applicant proposes to conserve the riparian buffer area and allow it to naturally rehabilitate.
However, performance outcomes PO6(c), PO10 and acceptable outcomes AO6.2 requires the
enhancement of wildlife corridors and connectivity and rehabilitation of ecologically important
areas. The applicant has proposed assisted natural rehabilitation of the waterway however does
not propose to rehabilitate the full extent of the recommended riparian buffer area. The applicant
submits that the full rehabilitation of the riparian buffer is deemed excessive considering the
minimal impacts the development is proposing but would introduce a new unit of hazardous
vegetation within the site resulting in an unacceptable bushfire risk to the development.
Biodiversity, Waterways and Wetlands Overlay Code acceptable outcome AO6.2 requires
development provides rehabilitation of land within the riparian buffer area, a wetland area and 10m
either side of the centre line of any other waterway identified on the overlay map. Council officers
would support a similar vegetative rehabilitation width as 23 Jirrima to support the habitat
connectivity. As detailed above this waterway provides an important ecological linkage.
Despite requests for updated revegetation plans (and corresponding bushfire management plans)
the applicant has decided not to provide updated information in accordance with the above.
Therefore, it is considered that the application fails to demonstrate compliance with PO6(c), PO10


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