2019-03-12 Planning & Environment Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                      12 MARCH 2019


Council officer recommendations
As per the audit report continue to maintain the structural integrity of fences however it is
recommended that vegetation be retained along fence lines due to the scale of environmental
impact that would be incurred if it was cleared. Leaving vegetation along fence lines increases
the risk of koalas entering the roadway and is not best practice when it comes to fauna
infrastructure design. However, it will help koalas escape off the roadway and the existing fencing
will also present a barrier to certain other species such as wallabies.
Unless it is a requirement of a development application or a road/bridge renewal in an identified
koala ‘hotspot’ area, it is recommended that new koala infrastructure only be developed if data
suggests that vehicle strike is the greatest threat to koalas in a particular location and the new
infrastructure will mitigate that threat.
Climbing poles and ladders
Background
Climbing poles and lattice ladders are installed in areas where koalas could become trapped on a
roadway e.g. where there are gabion and revetment walls. Climbing poles and ladders were
installed previously in different parts of the shire between 2003 and 2006 and are a cost effective
measure compared with other infrastructure.




                    Photo 5: Example of a climbing poles Leslie Drive, Noosa Heads




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