2021-04-06 Planning & Environment Committee Meeting Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                         6 APRIL 2021


No post-settlement cultural heritage has been identified on this site and any Aboriginal cultural
heritage values that may be revealed on the site are subject to further requirements and duty of care
as set out in the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act.
     Traffic and Parking
The proposal includes parking for 6 vehicles including an ambulance bay, and an additional mobility
scooter or golf buggy space.
The Driveways and Parking Code requires 1 space per 4 beds and 1 space for an emergency
vehicle. The proposal comprises 20 beds including the 2 provided for the onsite overnight carers,
leaving 18 beds for residents.
The current proposal meets the minimum requirements for parking in accordance with the code. The
applicant has provided further supporting information to demonstrate that parking provision is
suitable for the proposed use.
Noosa Plan defines Residential Care Facility as follows:
Residential care facility means the use of premises for supervised accommodation, and medical
and other support services, for persons who—
1.    cannot live independently; and
2.    require regular nursing or personal care.
The proposal outlined by the applicant is consistent with the use as defined and will be purpose built
to provide housing for people with high care needs who would otherwise be accommodated in aged
care facilities despite their younger age.
The applicant maintains that previous experience in other, similar facilities has shown that the
residents to be accommodated at the premises do not own vehicles or drive at all. Any transport to
or from the premises is undertaken in the vehicle of one of the on-site carers unless taken off site by
family. Those residents who did seek to leave the premises in the company of a carer, and without
a vehicle, are usually equipped with electronic wheelchairs that are more than capable of traversing
the hill on Viewland Drive and any uneven terrain that may be encountered along any route outside
of the premises.
The provided car parking spaces would be used mainly by the 2 staff on site, with 3 car spaces free
for visiting staff or family. The 6th vehicle space can be used for emergency vehicles in the event
that they are required.
While the existing parking and traffic issues experienced in Viewland Drive are indicated to be
unsatisfactory at the present time, as asserted by many local residents and owners in the area, it is
apparent that the issue of traffic is less about the proposed development than it is with existing
development on the nearby Peppers Resort which is causing parking and traffic issues by staff and
conference visitors using Viewland Drive.
Given the operational aspects of the proposal, the number of traffic movements are unlikely to be of
a scale that will significantly alter the existing situation. The proposed use meets the requirements
of the Planning Scheme Code in regard to traffic and parking and satisfies the Acceptable Outcome
for the number of parking spaces. Council’s Development Engineer has no significant concerns with
the proposed access and parking arrangements. Appropriate conditions can address any issues if
the application is approved.
Land Use & Works Provisions
The application has been assessed against the applicable land use and works codes. The pertinent
issues arising out of the assessment against the codes are discussed below:




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