2018-09-11 Planning & Environment Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                       11 SEPTEMBER 2018


4.3. Public Notification
The application was publicly notified for 17 business days in accordance with the Sustainable
Planning Act 2009. Three properly made submissions were received. The application was
publicly notified with the two uses being the paintball activities and the indoor play centre
(playmaze). The following table provides a summary and assessment of the issues raised by
submitters. Although the comments were based on two additional uses occurring on site, it is
considered the issues raised are still relevant for 1 additional use as per the existing proposal.
 Matters Raised                                        Comments
 Single unsealed land does not support                 Marara Street in its current form is not suitable for
 increased traffic                                     the proposed increase in traffic and the proposal
 Accidents have already occurred as raised by all      has the potential to raise some significant and
 3 submitters                                          serious traffic safety issues for people using Marara
 Concerns for pedestrians and cyclists and             Street. The current condition and construction of
 limited vision for cars coming both ways -            Marara Street is not capable of safely
 danger posed by increased vehicular and               accommodating the proposed paintball fields or an
 pedestrian traffic                                    indoor play centre if proposed in the future.
 Road is very dusty at the moment
 People are not familiar with the dangers on this
 road
 Any increase in traffic on Marara Street cannot
 happen safely without major upgrading of the
 road - that is 2 sealed lanes with clear visibility
 The nature of the existing road lends itself to
 uses as there will be low traffic volumes and
 some drive accordingly, creating dangerous
 situations
 The Playmaze/café has been operating since            It is agreed that increased traffic or pedestrians on
 April 2017 and since that time the road has           this road in its current form is not suitable from a
 attracted children and families either walking or     capacity and a safety viewpoint.
 cycling, when this has not been the case in the
 past. Blind corners and the nature of the road
 with increased traffic creates a very dangerous
 situation.
 The development proposal greatly                      There are approximately 25 onsite car spaces in
 underestimates the expected numbers.                  close proximity to the paintball fields and
 Sometimes parking spills out onto Marara St           approximately another 12 spaces located on the
                                                       southern portion of the site. Car parking numbers
                                                       are adequate to cater for existing and the proposed
                                                       use. Paintball will utilise the onsite church parking
                                                       which has no overlapping hours with church times.
 Increased noise from more patrons                     The closest residence is 150 metres from the
                                                       nearest paintball field. It is acknowledged that there
                                                       may be noise from paintball activities which will
                                                       consist of vehicle movements and voices from
                                                       players.
5.    CONCLUSION & REASONS FOR DECISION
The proposed use, whilst it may offer Cooroy an additional recreational activity and a safe place
for youth, has the potential to raise some significant and serious traffic safety issues for people
using Marara Street and the current condition and construction of Marara Street is not capable of
safely accommodating any increase in traffic from the proposed paintball fields. Given the traffic
safety concerns the proposal would require significant upgrading to Marara Street and the church
has advised such works are not within their capacity. An upgrade to Marara Street is also not in
Council’s capital works program with the increase in traffic on Marara Street not contemplated for
the area. On this basis, and given a satisfactory solution to address the constrained sections of
Marara Street has not been identified throughout the application process, the proposal cannot be
reasonably conditioned. The application is therefore recommended for refusal.


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