2014-03-25 Planning & Organisation Committee Agenda Pages 81-167

PLANNING & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                   25 MARCH 2014


Vehicle access to development within the Sunshine Coast Council area (Precincts 1 and 2) is
proposed via a link road consisting of an upgraded Tidswell Road (joining with Eumarella Road to
the south) and a northern road extension to the proposed Walter Hay Drive roundabout, utilising
part of the existing Hollett Road reserve and a new road through the proposed Open Space
Conservation Zone. Traffic generated by development within these two precincts travelling
to/from the north is most likely to use this link road (including the new road through the Open
Space Conservation Zone) to get to the proposed Walter Hay Drive roundabout, whereas traffic
travelling to/from the south is most likely to use this link road (including an upgraded Tidswell
Road) to get to Eumarella Road.

Based on the range of potential dwelling numbers proposed by the applicant and the generation
rates contained in the submitted traffic impact assessment report, the likely daily traffic volumes
for the development are summarised below. It is estimated that approximately 60% of
development traffic will travel to/from north of the site (e.g. via Walter Hay Drive to Noosaville,
Noosa Civic, Noosa Heads etc) and 40% of traffic will travel to/from south of the site (e.g.
Sunshine Motorway to Peregian Springs, Coolum, and Maroochydore or Eumundi-Noosa Road
to Eumundi and the Bruce Highway).

                                           Daily Traffic

 Precincts        Estimated Daily Traffic                      Access Location
                        Generation
    1&2        3,300 – 3,700 vehicles per day        Link road to new Walter Hay Drive
                                                      roundabout (for northern traffic (60%))

                                                     Link road (Tidswell Road) to Eumarella
                                                      Road (for southern traffic (40%))

    3&4        2,400 – 3,000 vehicles per day        New Walter Hay Drive roundabout


The link road serving Precincts 1 and 2 should be constructed to a Distributor road type (Noosa
Plan) or District Collector road type (Maroochy Plan 2000) to ensure safe operation for all users,
including vehicles, on-road cyclists and buses. While it may be possible to adjust carriageway
widths at certain points along this link road to take account of localised constraints and minimise
impacts on existing vegetation, it is considered essential that paved shoulders be provided for the
entire length of the link road – including along the section of new road proposed through the
Open Space Conservation Zone.

It is considered essential for emergency vehicle access and general day-to-day traffic
connectivity (to both the north and the south) that the proposed link road from Walter Hay Drive
to Tidswell Road is provided in its entirety. Planning Scheme Policy No 6 – Transport, Traffic
and Parking (Maroochy Plan 2000) requires all residential areas greater than 100 lots to have
more than one street access. If the link road is not provided in its entirety (e.g. vehicle access to
Precincts 1 and 2 is limited to Tidswell Road only (southern access/egress)), then Precincts 1
and 2 would effectively be located at the end of a very long cul-de-sac. This is not consistent
with good urban development and connectivity principles. Furthermore, it does not provide an
adequate alternative access for emergency vehicles or evacuation route for residents in the
event of bushfire.




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