2018-09-11 Planning & Environment Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                              11 SEPTEMBER 2018


The site contains koala remnant habitat areas that align with the western portion of the site. The
proposed paintball activities are adjacent to these areas. It is proposed that outdoor lighting
associated with the use be angled towards the existing building and away from the bushland
area, so as to minimise impacts on fauna and neighbours to the north of the site.
Traffic and Access
Marara St is a narrow gravel single carriageway, servicing a small number of landholdings,
including the church and manse and 2 properties with dwellings. The road’s capacity is currently
significantly limited as it is very narrow in places, has limited to no sight line opportunities in
places, and is predominantly unsealed. Refer Figure 5 – Marara Road. The road is also
located in a bushland setting with a waterway running parallel to the road.
Residents living on this road (and submitters to this application) report safety issues associated
with the proposal and associated increased traffic, as was evident when the playmaze activities
commenced operations. The applicant states that they are not aware of any road safety
incidences on Marara Road associated with the use of their site. However, it is considered any
increase in use of this road beyond its current usage and in its current form is likely to cause
significant safety concerns for users.
These concerns were outlined in Council’s information request and the applicant was requested
to provide a traffic report to address the increase in traffic on Marara St. The applicant was also
requested to consider the existing formation, potential for impacts on residents, improvements of
the road necessary to cater for the proposed development and any other considerations, such as
an emergency management plan in high rainfall events.
A traffic report prepared by Road Pro Engineering was submitted by the applicant that
considered existing and proposed uses on site and results of a traffic survey. This survey over 7
days showed the highest peak demand generated by the existing church. The applicant’s traffic
report also submitted that this peak would increase to 40 vehicles per hour in the coming years
when the church patronage is expected to increase from an average of 70 to a maximum
capacity of 100 persons. In comparison, the proposed use will generate an estimated additional
maximum peak of 18 vehicles per hour. Due to the peaks occurring at different times, the
applicant’s traffic report submitted that the proposal would result in no net increase of peak traffic
from the site. On this basis, the applicant’s traffic consultant concluded that Marara Street would
not require upgrading (geometric improvements), sealing or the like to accommodate the
proposed uses. The applicant’s traffic consultant also recommended signage be installed along
Marara Street including ‘one lane’, ‘give way’ and ‘no stopping or passing’ signage at appropriate
locations along the road to support the proposal.
The applicant’s traffic report was peer reviewed by Council’s traffic consultant. Council’s traffic
engineer does not agree with the findings of the applicant’s traffic report and advises that
additional upgrade works are required to Marara Street to cater for the additional traffic
movements generated by the proposed development. The upgrades would including widening,
sealing and signage to address the valid and apparent safety issues that would result from the
proposal.
In an effort to address Council officer’s concerns in this regard, the applicant engaged an
engineer to undertake further investigation of the existing formation and prepare a design of the
necessary works. As part of the investigation, the applicant engaged a surveyor to locate and
identify levels of the existing road formation. The survey showed that part of the existing
formation (at the bend at the southern end and extending north for approximately 180 metres) is
located outside of the road reserve and within the adjacent Qld Rail land. In order to provide the
necessary width in the road reserve the formation would need to be relocated to the west and
this would require realigning a significant length of the creek bank. Due to the potential cost of
the necessary works and the potential impacts on the waterway and associated vegetation, it is
not considered feasible to undertake the works or reasonable to condition the applicant to
undertake the works. The option to widen and seal the existing formation without relocation
would require approval from Queensland Railway and may require a road opening.

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