2016-07-12 Planning & Environment Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                   12 JULY 2016


The expanded development does not introduce any new significant built form relaxations, with
the previous minor eaves width and setback relaxations remaining similar and conditions
recommended where appropriate.
The primary assessment issue raised by the Locality Code is the expansion of the development
onto the neighbouring Rural zoned allotment. The retirement use is proposed over approximately
1.4ha of the 2.0ha Rural lot, with the balance area to continue to contain a detached house on a
smaller lot resulting from the proposed lot reconfiguration.
The applicant submits the following comments to support the use on the rural zoned land:
Palm Lake Resort have recognised that an ageing population requires more housing – this is
because older persons tend to live alone or as couples, pushing down the overall occupancy of
dwellings. As a greater proportion of our population ages, additional housing will be required to
accommodate these households.
For older Australians, there is a clear preference to remain living in a detached house. As such,
the need for well-located and affordable accommodation is important. The degree to which older
persons are able to move into more suitable accommodation is very much affected by a range of
matters – from the availability of housing, to individual choice or family and affordability.
Australia’s ageing population will bring significant change in housing demand, both in terms of
location and dwelling type. The availability of suitable, comfortable, affordable and accessible
housing is important for older people, and will factor as a significant influence of demand from
both retiring households.
In light of the above, there are sufficient grounds to justify approval despite conflict with the
Noosa Plan. The grounds include:
   There is a need to provide accommodation for an aging population in terms of location and
     dwelling type;
   The proposed development provides a specific type of affordable residential
     accommodation targeted at mature aged living and aged care that offers a full range of co-
     located services and facilities; and
   The proposed development has the potential to provide significant community benefits,
     namely the creation of additional employment opportunities (construction, maintenance and
     services) and expenditure within the town of Cooroy by the residents.
The applicant’s grounds are generally agreed, however, are broad statements about the societal
need for the development and the benefits to Cooroy nature. Further site specific characteristics
are considered to contribute to the grounds to support the use, being:
   The site is small for a rural zoned allotment being only 2.0ha, which would more commonly
     be zoned Rural Settlement in the Noosa area.
   The site does not support any significant rural activities or agricultural production and
     supports only a single detached house, which will remain.
   The land is within the urban boundary and mostly surrounded by urban development in the
     form of detached housing to the east and the approved retirement living development to the
     west and northwest.
The Rural zoned land is considered to provide a logical extension to the approved retirement
living development. The expansion will not introduce any significant new impacts on existing uses
in the area or adversely affect Cooroy’s rural production capacity. Cooroy township has been the
focus for residential growth in the Noosa hinterland’s for an extended period (mainly through
urban subdivisions). The development both supports this growth and is itself supported by the
high level of services and facilities available in Cooroy.




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