Appendix C - Ecological Assessment Report · RAL26/0026

5.2       NOOSA PLAN 2020 – BIODIVERSITY, WATERWAYS AND WETLANDS OVERLAY
The proposed Lot 2 building envelope is located wholly outside of any mapped overlay areas. However,
access to the existing dwelling within proposed Lot 1 is to be provided via a new access handle and
driveway to be provided along the western site boundary. Approximately 75m of the access handle
traverses through an area of biodiversity significance mapped under the Noosa Plan 2020. In addition,
approximately 40m of the proposed new common property boundary between Lot 1 and Lot traverses
through a mapped area of biodiversity significance mapped under the Noosa Plan 2020.

The Noosa Plan 2020 provides several vegetation clearing exemptions for property maintenance
purposes. The Planning Scheme defines exempt clearing to include:
     Clearing which is a property maintenance activity; construction of a new fence for a width of 5
        metres either side the fence line, where outside a riparian buffer area.
     Clearing on a Category 3 lot1, where—
           o the vegetation is within 10 metres of an existing building or class 10 structure; and
           o the clearing is reasonably necessary for access to the building or class 10 structure or has
               been approved in a landscape plan; and
           o the vegetation is not otherwise required to be retained in accordance with a development
               approval.
If the development were to be approved, proposed Lot 2 would be 0.15ha and would therefore be
considered a Category 1 Lot. Lot 1 would be 2.44ha and would therefore be considered a Category 3 Lot.
The proposed new allotment boundary traverses approximately 115m of mapped Area of Biodiversity
Significance under the Noosa Plan 2020 – Biodiversity, Waterways and Wetlands Overlay.

A boundary fence is considered a Class 10b structure under the National Construction Code building
classification system. Therefore, as per the exempt clearing definition provided in the Noosa Plan 2020, a
clearing exemption with a maximum width of 10m could be introduced into Lot 1 for access purposes to
a future Class 10b boundary fence and a clearing exemption of 5m would be introduced into Lot 2. Whilst
10m is the maximum extent of clearing allowable under the exemption, the extent of clearing must be
considered reasonably necessary as per the wording contained in the definition. In this instance, it is not
considered that the full width of 10m allowable under the exemption would be considered reasonably
necessary for access and maintenance purposes. It is considered that a maximum exempt clearing width
of 5m is appropriate as this is a sufficient width to allow for a vehicle to traverse adjacent to a future
boundary fence for access and maintenance purposes. However, as the boundary traverses through a
lightly vegetated area, it is considered that a boundary fence could largely be constructed and maintained
without the need to clear any vegetation. As per the definition of exempt clearing provided under the
Noosa Plan 2020, all vegetation that is located more than 5m from the boundary can be retained as a
condition of a development approval issued by Noosa Council.

In addition, the proposed access handle and associated new driveway servicing Lot 1 has been limited to
a width of 4.5m and has been located adjoining the existing western property boundary which is already
afforded clearing exemptions for property maintenance. In this regard, any trees to be cleared to


1
 A Category 1 Lot means a freehold lot of 0.3 hectares or less in the protected vegetation overlay area, a Category 3 Lot means
a freehold lot of 2 hectares or more, other than a category 4 lot, in the protected vegetation overlay area

AUGUST 2026                                  ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT REPORT                                             Page: 19
                                             380 MCKINNON DRIVE, COOROIBAH