Further comments from Andrew Webb in support of proposal MCU12/0012

Subject: MCU 12/0012
From: Andrew Webb
Date: 2012-05-27T23:22:04+00:00
To: Internet Mailbox Sunshine Coast Regional Council

RE: 298 Tablelands Rd Cooran - Home Based Business Type 3 Quad Park - Charles Marais

Further to my letter of March 19th, 2012 in which I raised concerns with the substance of the application, I have discussed his proposal further with Charles Marais and offer the following observations.  


1.	With regard to noise to neighbours and beyond (my points 1 and 2), I note that Mr. Marais is proposing an alternative route which sees the tour turning off of Tablelands Road sooner than in the original proposal; some 600m north of his site.  This change appears to avoid close proximity of the quad bikes to most neighbouring houses, thus mitigating the problem.  I am also informed that acoustic modelling shows that 12 of the proposed quad bikes together is approximately equal to the noise level generated by one late model car.  If this is indeed the case, then there is no issue.  Furthermore I understand that there is an existing permit for dirt bikes to use the trail and, although I don't support that in principle, there is no reason to prejudice Mr. Marais' application if indeed this existing approval for someone else is in place.
	
2.	With regard to my points 3 and 4, the safety of increasing traffic on Tablelands Road and the inadequacy of current public transportation services to Cooran, Mr. Marais informs me that he has taken these concerns on board and will require his clients to use a shuttle bus that he will provide, and for them not drive up Tablelands Road to his site.  I am not in a position to confirm the safety or logistical aspects of this but the concept sounds as though it will significantly limit the safety concerns I raised in my first letter.  Thus, if this sort of arrangement is made a condition of the approval then I believe it would solve the access problems.
3.	With regard to my point 5, Mr. Marais informs that the majority of the 4WD track that he proposes to use has signs to prevent use by horses.  I understand that one relatively short section of track that does become a shared zone, between the 4WD track and the Noosa Trail, is clearly marked to warm both types of users (motorised and not) to be aware of the other.   Mr. Marais says he will implement a policy that his tour bikes will give way to any horse riders they encounter along the way.  Not being a horse rider myself, this sounds reasonable to me but I would defer to those in the know.   
	I do note that any motorised vehicle use in wild areas is problemmatic for native habitats, but that problem is existing already in this case.  The monitoring of the trail by Mr. Marais through the use of cameras has the potential to reduce abuse of the area by dumping and the like, so this is beneficial.  Short of banning any motorised vehicles in forested areas, which raises other problems, I do not see that what Mr. Marais is proposing is excessive.
	

I appreciate that Mr. Marais has considered the concerns that have been raised through this process and is proposing changes to reduce or eliminate the potential problems of the initial proposal.  This result shows that the public notification process has a real benefit to the community and is not simply a burden imposed on prospective developers.  Should the application be successful, I believe Mr. Marais' business will be all the better for this public input and the rights and safety of others will be protected.  I support his right to conduct his proposed business in an ethical way and within legal limits.  I believe his proposal has the potential to bring business to some others in Cooran, and that is appreciated.


Yours sincerely,

Andrew Webb
24 King Street, Cooran