NBN Planning Report_Cooran

    a) Residents and visitors have access to adequate levels of infrastructure to meet their
       needs;
    b) Infrastructure Uses do not detract from the visual amenity of the major road network
       nor on the rural or residential amenity enjoyed by residents of and visitors to Noosa;
    c) Facilities are co-located where appropriate and practical;
    d) Infrastructure uses are energy efficient;
    e) Infrastructure Uses do not pose a threat to public safety;
    f) The natural character and environmental values of Noosa are protected from
       adverse impacts associated with Infrastructure Uses; and
    g) Convenient, comfortable and safe access is provided with the design of infrastructure
       uses.

Compliance
The proposed telecommunications facility is considered to be appropriately located in order
to provide the Cooran locality with essential communication services, whilst minimising
potential visual and amenity impacts.

The proposed facility will provide improved network access to remote locations within the
region to help service current and future residents needs and has the potential to add to the
economic viability by providing access to efficient and reliable broadband services.

Potential visual and amenity impacts have also been considered in the site selection process.
The subject property and surrounding area contain large areas of mature vegetation,
particularly along the ridgelines to the south, east and west of the proposed NBN
compound. This vegetation will help to mitigate potential visual impacts and provide
screening of the facility from the surrounding area. As the proposed facility is located on a
cleared area of the site, no vegetation clearing is proposed as part of the subject application.

It is recognised that the facility will be a new introduction to the locality. However,
telecommunications facilities are required to be located within the area they are intended to
serve. The proposed new infrastructure has been co-sited near to the Powerlink stanchions
to maintain consistency in the current land use of the property and to reduce the visual
effect and distribution of such infrastructure through the Cooran area. Furthermore, the
proposed facility has been set back from Schreibers Road, approximately 600 m, to reduce
visual dominance of the facility when viewed by motorists.

The proposed facility has been appropriately located within a low density rural area and will
not adversely impact the rural zone as the facility has been intentionally located to minimise
the impacts on the rural activities undertaken on-site. The facility has been intentionally
located near the southern property boundary, to reduce the disturbance of the agricultural
and grazing capabilities of the site. Furthermore, the NBN compound will occupy a relatively
small lease area (110 m²) of the total 55 ha of land, which will prevent the fragmentation of
productive land.

The facility has been intentionally located on privately land for which there is existing access
available. The site access is considered to be appropriate given the NBN Co facility will not
be a significant generator of traffic and is not anticipated to adversely impact on the
surrounding road network. The proposed facility will also have restrictions aimed at


NBN-4BBZ-4GYM-5132-Schreibers                                                      Page 37