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RFI - Ecology Response
J000908
25 Pavilion St POMONA - RAL21/0017
29 October 2021
Noel Shipp
[email protected]
Dear Noel,
RE: Request for RFI Response to Issues 1-3 – For proposed subdivision at 25 Pavilion St
POMONA - Council Reference: RAL21/001).
As per your request please see below our response to Noosa Council RFI Issues 1-3 (Council
Reference: RAL21/0017) for the proposed subdivision at 25 Pavilion St POMONA.
Issues 1-3 stated within the Information Request are as follows:
The NC Biodiversity, Waterways, and Wetlands Overlay depicts a waterway within the centre of the
site. This mapping is considered to be incorrect on the following basis.
The Noosa Shire Planning Scheme defines a Waterway as; waterway is a river, creek or other
stream, lake or lagoon in which water flows permanently or intermittently, in a natural channel,
whether artificially modified or not or in an artificial channel that has changed the course of the
stream. A waterway includes instream islands, as well as constructed stormwater drainages with
surface water flows, but not piped water drains.
The Ecological Assessment Report prepared by NCES (August 2021) stated the following;
Council’s Biodiversity, Waterways, and Wetlands overlay mapping depicts a first order waterway in
proximity to the proposed Lot 6 building envelope. No formal waterway containing defined bed and/or
banks was observed in the location as mapped by Council. A small, engineered, mowed, grassy
swale was observed which would capture sheet flow from the eastern slope in prolonged rain events.
The swale would direct flows into the onsite dam. No formal spillway was observed on the dam wall
and no defined channel exiting the dam was observed, indicating that the majority of water captured
by the drainage swale would be expected to be retained within the dam.
The blue hatched line in Plate 1 & 2 depicts the condition of the mapped waterway. No woody
vegetation is present flanking the majority of the mapped waterway (precluding exotic slash pine
trees; Pinus elliottii, surrounding the dam).
Tel (07) 5450 5652 / PO Box 9566 Pacific Paradise 4564 / Email: [email protected]
ABN 60 625 108 625
1
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J000908
25 Pavilion St POMONA - RAL21/0017
Plate 1 – Mapped Waterway (refer blue dashed line)
Plate 2 – Mapped Waterway (refer blue dashed line)
The state mapping presented in Plate 3 indicates the presence of a Drainage Feature and not a
Waterway as per Water Act 2000, along the general alignment of the observed depression.
Tel (07) 5450 5652 / PO Box 9566 Pacific Paradise 4564 / Email: [email protected]
ABN 60 625 108 625
2
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J000908
25 Pavilion St POMONA - RAL21/0017
Plate 3 – Water Act 2000 Mapping (Source: QLD Globe)
As per Plate 3 above, the ‘drainage feature’ captures a minor depression in the landscape which is
likely to only receive very minor sheet flows in heavy downpour conditions, with the majority of rainfall
expected to be subjected to direct soil infiltration at its point of surface impact about the drainage
feature. Revegetation either side of the drainage feature is therefore not expected to significantly
enhance water quality outcomes as compared to the existing grass cover about, and within, the
drainage feature. Furthermore, no vegetative riparian values are associated with the drainage
feature within the site or within adjoining sites to the immediate north and south. The request to
revegetate the drainage feature is therefore not considered a priority conservation outcome for the
site.
In light of the above, it would appear to be a significant and unreasonable constraint on the applicant
for Council to seek to condition the retention and rehabilitation of the subject NSC mapped
watercourse.
In addition, it is understood that a pre-lodgement was conducted with Council concerning the
development in question (Council Reference: PLM21/0036) in which the proposed layout was agreed
by Mr. Conor Neville (Council Ecologist at the time) and Tara Norley (Council Planner) dated 17
June 2021 (per comms Noel Shipp). The request to retain and rehabilitate the mapped waterway at
such a late part of the process is obviously problematic for the applicant and inconsistent with
previous advice given by Council. It is therefore proposed that the mapped waterway be disregarded
as a waterway for the purposes of assessment. It is noted a very significant net gain in riparian
habitat; approximately 0.38ha, will arise as a result of the development given the proposal to
rehabilitate the currently denuded Riparian Protection Area in the west of the site. This cost to the
applicant is significant and should be weighed against the request to rehabilitate the drainage feature
about Lot 6.
Should you have any queries regarding this proposal please do not hesitate to contact me.
Tel (07) 5450 5652 / PO Box 9566 Pacific Paradise 4564 / Email: [email protected]
ABN 60 625 108 625
3
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J000908
25 Pavilion St POMONA - RAL21/0017
Sincere regards,
Joshua Lee - Director
B. Sc. Australian Environmental Studies (Ecology, Land & Water, Pollution & Health)
mEIANZ, mFPAA, mESA
Mobile: 0406 626 913 | Email: [email protected]
Tel (07) 5450 5652 / PO Box 9566 Pacific Paradise 4564 / Email: [email protected]
ABN 60 625 108 625
4