Town Planning Report - Boutique Hotel Development Noosa Springs - June 2021

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             m) Safe movement of koalas through koala habitat, including within urban and rural residential
                areas, is facilitated by incorporating appropriate koala friendly development design
                measures, fauna fencing and fauna movement devices.
             n) …
             o) …
             p) Adverse impacts from development on biodiversity, ecosystem health, ecological processes,
                soil, air and water quality are avoided. Where avoidance is not practicable, adverse impacts
                are minimised or mitigated and it is demonstrated that:
                   i.     on the balance of social, economic and environmental considerations, the
                          development is in the interests of the community; and
                  ii.     any adverse impacts incurred are compensated by suitable habitat replacement and
                          replanting on site in the first instance or in a way that results in a net gain and
                          enhancement of the overall habitat values of the Noosa Shire.

         While the subject site is not included wholly with the Tourist Accommodation Zone, the Noosa
         Local Plan (part 3.2.6) identifies that tourism in the Noosa Heads locality is a key aspect of the
         local economy which is sought be protected and encouraged. Particular sites such as the subject
         land have been designated for tourism purposes in the form of a Resort Complex or Short-term
         Accommodation (part 3.3.3(m)). The proposed development will be a significant contributor to
         the local economy, which is discussed in more detail below.

         Under part 3.2.6 of the Strategic Framework, the proposed development is consistent with the
         Local Economic Plan to provide for growth with uses that offer a higher economic value and where
         having a low environmental impact. The proposed development contributes to achieving the
         outcomes sought under the SEQRP, which sets a projected employment target of 11,000 new jobs
         across all sectors in Noosa Shire by 2041.

         It is recognised (part 3.2.4) that Noosa Shire's popularity as a destination for visitors, residential
         accommodation is under increasing pressure from both residents and visitors. Visitor
         accommodation areas in Noosa Heads, Noosaville and Noosa North Shore are sought to be
         protected for visitors to the exclusion of permanent residents.

         There are limited number of sites available for new resort development that are protected for this
         very purpose (discussed below). This forms part of the long term planning strategy to protect
         permanent residents from influxes of short term visitors whose interests and priorities are not
         compatible with residential amenity (part 3.3.3(n)). The proposed development is partly located
         within a designated tourism area, which provides support for the purpose built high quality visitor
         accommodation that is removed from permanent residents in Noosa Springs (discussed further
         below).

         The proposed development is consistent with the principles of maintaining sustainability and
         having low environmental impact. It is acknowledged that the proposed development will result
         in the removal of some koala habitat; however, the impact upon the NJKHTs has been minimised
         with an environmental offset to be provided. It is expected that the environmental offset will
         compensate by providing suitable habitat replacement resulting a net gain in a location that is
         not isolated and disjointed which is the case for the subject land (part 3.3.4(p)).




         Noosa Springs Boutique Hotel – GH Australia Pty Ltd                                Page 26