2015-07-21 Planning & Organisation Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                   21 JULY 2015


There is an existing high voltage electricity easement extending from the north west corner to the
eastern lot boundaries. The easement includes 2 x 25m high electricity stanchions within the
property and another stanchion located on the neighbouring property to the east at the top of the
ridgeline (201 Schreibers Road).
2.3. Surrounding Land Uses
The site adjoins six rural zoned lots ranging in size from 2ha to 65ha in area. 211 Schreibers
Road and 203 Sankeys Rd are the closest houses to the proposed tower, approximately 400m to
the north and east. It is noted the existing high voltage power lines and stanchions are located
between the proposed tower and these existing houses.
3.     ASSESSMENT
3.1. Instruments for Statutory Assessment
Under the Sustainable Planning Act 2009 the application must be assessed against each of the
following statutory planning instruments to the extent they are relevant to the development:
    State Planning Policies;
    the South East Queensland Regional Plan;
    State Planning Regulatory Provisions; and
    the Planning Scheme for the local government area.
Of these, the statutory planning instruments relevant to this application are discussed in the
sections that follow.
3.2. State and Other Statutory Instruments
The site is located within the Regional Landscape and Rural Production Area of the SEQ
Regional Plan. The proposal is consistent with the regional policies and regulatory provisions of
the SEQ Regional Plan.
3.3. Statutory Instruments – The Noosa Plan
The subject site is located in the Mary River Catchment Locality and is zoned Rural. The
proposed use is identified as an inconsistent use within the zone and is required to follow an
impact assessable application process. While the whole of the planning scheme is applicable, the
following codes and policies are most relevant to the application:
     Mary River Catchment Locality Code
     Planning Scheme Policy 23 – Telecommunication Towers
     Infrastructure Uses Code

The pertinent issues arising out of the assessment are discussed below.

Code                   Discussion
Mary          River The proposed 41m high tower is more than 400m away from the closest
Catchment           residential dwellings to the east and south, with the 25m high electricity
Locality Code       stanchions located between the closest houses and the tower. There is
                    also substantial 25m+ high existing vegetation adjacent to the proposed
                    tower site.

                       The site selection is a direct response to the community’s objections to
                       the previous development proposal at Coles Creek Road. The current
                       proposal is considered to be a more appropriate location as it is near
                       existing high voltage electricity stanchions and mature vegetation. Even
                       though the top of the tower will be seen by surrounding houses, the
                       development will not significantly impact on the existing visual amenity of
                       the area, consistent with the outcomes of the Code.


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