Noosa Eenie Creek Rd MCU160081

PO Box 275 Caloundra Qld 4551
            Phone/Fax: 0754 442 707
                                        [email protected]

15 December 2016

The Assessment Manager
Noosa Council
PO Box 141
Tewantin Qld 4565
[email protected]

Dear Sir/Madam,

Re: MCU16/0081

From: Vacant Land
To: Multiple Housing Type 3- Retirement and Special Needs
At: 28 Eenie Creek Road, Noosaville
On: Part of lot 3 on SP246584
By: J & G Knowles and Associates Pty Ltd C/- Project Urban

We have some concerns regarding this proposal.

We note that there are potential conflicts with the Noosa Plan 2006, notably specific outcomes O8 (max 1 storey), O16 (plot ratio), O89 (use), and O167 (use), of the Noosaville Locality Code, which direct the use away from the applicable zones.

The application was also referred to the State Assessment and Referral Agency because it apparently exceeded the threshold for residential care facility in LGA population 2.

The proponents maintain that these potential conflicts should be overridden due to the perceived need for extra aged care beds, of which there will be an apparent shortfall of some 251 beds by 2026.

We understand that Noosa Council has acknowledged the shortage of aged care beds and the lack of suitable land for such facilities, but we maintain that approval of this application would set a precedent for future incompatible applications over areas set aside for Open Space/Conservation..

The current zoning of the site covers two zones, Shire Business Centre and Open Space Conservation, the latter probably being due to the fact that it adjoins the Noosa National Park.

The site is also designated as Koala Habitat, being within the Koala Development Assessable area, and we are pleased to see that, if the application is approved, an offset is proposed over the current Shire Business Centre zoned land, to be changed to Open Space Conservation, to compensate for the loss of Koala food trees.

We note that the consultants, Core, and Cardno, apparently found no threatened species on the site, but we maintain that the site would be valuable as an adjunct foraging and roosting area for many species, due to its boundary with the Noosa National Park.

The Park is designated as Regional Ecosystem 12.9-10.1, containing high ecosystem diversity, and fauna would inevitably move back and forth

We note that the area is included in the ‘medium bushfire hazard’ area under Council’s Noosaville Natural Hazard Bushfire Overlay Map, which covers land in all directions immediately adjacent to the subject site.

We have concerns over the fact that an aged care facility is intended to be built in such an area.

Would there be the ability for speedy evacuation of the residents of the complex in the case of a bushfire, noting that the proposal is for a 2 storey building, and is a large complex of interlinked buildings.

The consultants, Covey and Associates Pty Ltd, note that the site would be very vulnerable to a bushfire sweeping through the National Park, or coming from the south.

They note that there have been frequent fires of medium bushfire hazard severity in the area over the last few years.

We ask that these concerns be taken into consideration when assessing this application.

Yours faithfully

Jill Chamberlain OAM
Vice President