Delegated Report - Code - Planning OPW26 0033 (As Published)

                      new protections across the region. These reforms restricted land clearing and mandated
                      state-level assessment for development in designated koala habitats.
                      Under the current koala regulation and associated mapping, the site is identified as a Koala
                      Priority Area and Core Koala Habitat (Figure 7). Any vegetation clearing would be considered
                      Prohibited Development unless exempt.




                                                    Figure 7 – SEQ KHA mapping

                      The South East Queensland (SEQ) koala habitat framework includes transitional
                      arrangements that protect existing development rights. Relevant provisions include:
                           •    Development applications that were properly made before 7 February 2020 are
                                generally assessed against the planning provisions that applied at the time the
                                application was lodged.
                           •    Clearing within koala habitat is generally exempt where it is authorised under a
                                development approval (including a preliminary approval) granted for an application
                                that was properly made before 7 February 2020.
                      The proposed works affecting koala habitat are considered exempt under these transitional
                      arrangements, as the original development application was properly made prior to the
                      commencement of the current koala habitat regulations.
                      A Koala Survey Report prepared by OWAD Environment (dated 6 October 2019), was
                      submitted as part of the reconfiguration application (RAL19/0014). The survey utilised two
                      professionally trained koala detection dogs and found no evidence of koalas residing on, or
                      visiting, the site within at least the previous six months. The report also concluded that the
                      proposed vegetation protection covenant would ensure the ongoing protection of any koala
                      food trees within the covenant area in perpetuity.
                      Assessment
                      The application was lodged in 2019 under the now superseded Noosa Plan 2006 and is
                      therefore assessed under that Planning Scheme.
                      The proposed vegetation clearing is consistent with that assessed in the higher order
                      approval (RAL19/0014). Pertinent matters of the higher order approval conditions considered
                      in the assessment of this application are outlined in Table 1.




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Document Set ID: 25027781
Version: 3, Version Date: 13/08/2026