Planning Report

8.          OTHER RELEVANT MATTERS
Section 45 of the Act provides for the assessment matters for different categories of assessment. For an
application subject to Impact Assessment, these matters are:

         An impact assessment is an assessment that—
         (a) must be carried out—
                (i) against the assessment benchmarks in a
                categorising instrument for the development; and
                (ii) having regard to any matters prescribed by
                regulation for this subparagraph; and
         (b) may be carried out against, or having regard to, any
         other relevant matter, other than a person’s personal
         circumstances, financial or otherwise.
                  Examples of another relevant matter—
                    •        a planning need
                    •         the current relevance of the assessment benchmarks in the light of changed
                             circumstances
                    •        whether assessment benchmarks or other prescribed matters were based on material
                             errors
As outlined in the previous sections of this report, the proposal conflicts with some elements of the Planning
Scheme. This conflict is limited to one key issue – being the type of retail land use proposed and their
compatibility and suitability within the overall intent of the Shire Business Centre Zone.
The development application is subject to Impact Assessment, and therefore the assessment manager may
carry out assessment against, or have regard to, relevant matters other than assessment benchmarks and
matters prescribed by regulation. In the light of the above, the following relevant matters are established in
this report to justify a decision made to approve this application.

8.1. PLANNING NEED AND COMMUNITY BENEFIT
•    With a growing population in Australia, there is an increasing demand for mixed use retail/large format
     retail within the suburban areas;

•    It is noted that in the recent years, large format retail/bulky goods centres have been an increasing trend
     within Australian retail environment, providing a range of tenants within homemaker centres;

•    Based on the Economic Impact Assessment in Appendix J, the Noosa residential total trade area
     population is expected to increase from around 137,140 in 2018 to 155,340 by the year 2031. Based on
     the typical level of large format retail floor space per person across Australia:
     o    There is currently a demand of 137,140m 2 for large format retail in the trade area;
     o    This demand will increase to 155,340m 2 for large format retail in the trade area in 2031;
     o    There is currently 94,211m 2 of large format retail floor space within the trade area, which is a
          shortfall of 42,929m2 at the present day;

•    The proposed Noosa Marketplace will offer additional retail and non-retail choice, convenience and price
     competition to the consumer, given there is an undersupply of these choices. The proposal offers
     additional variety of business tenants which currently don’t exist within the area;

•    Positive impacts include reduced travel times, given the nearest significant provision of large format retail
     and showroom facilities beyond the total trade area are provided at Maroochydore, more than a 70 km



URBIS
RPT-20190516-2-18 & 20 HOFMANN DRIVE, NOOSAVILLE_FINAL                                     OTHER RELEVANT MATTERS   55