PM Submission Object - Rochelle Gooch & Betty Vawser - MCU16/0153 & REC16/0041

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                 Patrick Murphy
                 The Assessment Officer
                 Noosa Shire Council
                 [email protected]



                 Dear Mr Murphy,
                 File No MCU 16/153 REC 16/0041
                 Postal Address 215 David Low Way, PEREGIAN BEACH
                 Proposed Development Multiple Housing-Type 4, Visitor Accommodation

                 Objection to the Scanlon Group Development Proposal
                 I Betty Vawser agree with every word of these objections as a resident
                 of Peregian Beach for over 20 years and wish urgently for the Noosa
                 Council to reject this frightenly hideous proposed development.
                 1) This Material Change of use Application contravenes the Noosa Town Plan & will destroy
                 Peregian’s point of difference & the attraction of our village for residents, holiday makers &
                 shoppers. The Caravan Park amenity, that was the real ‘essence’ of Peregian village, will be
                 replaced by urban density with scarce landscaping to soften the architectural bulk & concrete
                 structures.

                 2) There’s No Compliance with Noosa Council requirements with the majority of the
                 accommodation proposed for Permanent Housing. Priced from $725,000 to $850,000, this
                 proposal hardly provides low cost visitor accommodation for the needs of this community nor
                 the wider Noosa Shire. Peregian Beach has already been adversely impacted by nearby ‘new’
                 small lot housing developments that lack public amenity, open space & village lifestyle. Low
                 cost accommodation for campers & RVs would be an acceptable community solution,
                 celebrating the open space & providing a beach holiday experience for all.

                 3) Setbacks in general & to the Rufous laneway in particular, impinge on Noosa’s Master Plan
                 for Rufous St Renewal which is currently in progress, community amenity values & the
                 extensive community consultation process intended to activate the Bush to Beach pathway
                 upgrade & encourage increased useage. The leafy ambience planned for both Rufous laneway




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                 & Pocket Park to encourage parking & pedestrian access to the village would be greatly
                 compromised by the 2m proximity & 7m height of the proposed Reed & Wallum buildings, on
                 top of whatever level of fill is added to natural ground level.

                 4 ) The Development’s significant impact on the Creek & Wetland, both during construction &
                 upon completion is of tremendous concern, as is the planned density of housing on top of &
                 beside this ecologically sensitive reserve, adjacent Noosa National Park – Emu Swamp Section.
                 The natural spring, recognised in the 1960s & probably for thousands of years by our
                 indigenous forebears, known locally as Little Rufous Creek creates a watercourse that feeds into
                 the wetland & contributes to its ecological value.

                 Some 25,000 cubic metres of imported fill will be required, giving rise to 150 trips per day for at
                 least 3 months. This means one heavy vehicle axle load every 3-4 minutes along David Low
                 Way, down Sandpiper Court, through the IGA carpark & then back out via the Heron St
                 roundabout. The impacts of such large amounts of fill, will create fragmentation & attrition of
                 the watercourse, its habitat values & biodiversity - an environmental injustice for Qld Govt’s
                 identified Mandatory Essential Habitat .

                 There is no reference in the DA to the planned disturbance to essential wetland habitat for the
                 vulnerable Wallum Froglet( Crinia tinnula), Wallum Rocketfrog (Litoria freycinet), Wallum
                 Sedgefrog (Litoria oblongburensis), nor the impact on wetland heathland & sedgeplain,
                 inhabited by the vulnerable Ground Parrot (Pezoporus wallicus) recorded less than 500ms from
                 the site.

                 5) Significant & continuous Noise & Disruption to homes along David Low Way, adjoining
                 streets, laneway, PB Hotel, Hardware store, business & private premises in the vicinity of the
                 roadways & roundabout is guaranteed. The impact will be to the detriment of acoustic & visual
                 qualities, lifestyle, holiday village ambience & business, especially the al fresco dining/coffee
                 shops that all enjoy fresh air & ocean sounds.

                 6) Substantially Increased Traffic & Congestion is assured during construction as standing traffic
                 queues currently form at all accesses to the roundabout, particularly at daily peak times,
                 exacerbated further during school & public holidays. The proposed development risks being a
                 serious source of additional congestion & given the layout/landform, nigh on impossible to
                 mitigate in the future.

                 7) Foreground Vistas of the wetland & its vegetation across Noosa National Park-Emu Swamp
                 Section to Mt Cooroy will be diminished, in fact lost, to the bulky Hotel/Motel building’s
                 projected heights. Council needs to ensure height specifications are accurate & the current
                 expansive views are maintained. Here’s an opportunity to protect & showcase the intent of




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                 Noosa’s logo ‘Different by Nature’ by altering design or lowering the amount of fill to protect
                 the invaluable amenity of open space & ‘community vistas’.

                 8) Other concerns include density of buildings & infrastructure within the precinct, the
                 provision of scarce green space/vegetation/shade, preferred orientation to sunlight & natural
                 breezes, the provision of public access pathway between two story buildings, with little to
                 recommend passive surveillance, particularly at night. Light pollution is a further issue as every
                 new light bulb impacts adversely on Peregian’s disappearing night sky, particularly of concern
                 with the density planned for this site.

                 9) So many missed opportunities to work with community in consultation with Noosa Council’s
                 Master Plan for Rufous St & the adjoining laneway to add to the amenity. The north western
                 corner’s existing vegetation could have seen the creation of green space/parkland to embellish
                 the precinct for visitors & local community with potential to make genuine connections
                 between Rufous St /laneway with this development. Instead, it separates itself from the village
                 feel, in fact opposes the local residential community & village activities associated with the
                 function & interaction of Veggie Village, Tennis Club, Kindergarten & Community House, all
                 nearby neighbours of the planned development.

                 This proposal conflicts with community values, endorsed by all who reside & those who choose
                 this relaxed pedestrian location, where thongs, even bare feet are the norm. It delivers instead,
                 undesirable urban density & city lifestyle that’s aesthetically at odds with Peregian’s much
                 sought after open space linkages, relaxed village character & community engagement.

                 I urge Noosa Council to protect & retain the village of Peregian Beach, to stand strong behind
                 the intent of the Noosa Town Plan & refuse this Development Application.

                 Rochelle Gooch                Betty Vawser
                 1/22 Shearwater St            39 Cormorant Crescent
                 Peregian Beach 4573           Peregian Beach 4573
                 [email protected]
                 21st April 2017




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