Attachment 4 - Officer Report Dated 12 September 2023

semi-permanent nature (such as tents, yurts, relocatable dwellings or recreational vehicles) or it
adaptively reuses well-established rural buildings.
PO2
Development does not result in the loss or diminished productive capacity of Agricultural Land
Conservation Area.
PO4
Visitor accommodation:
         a) is at a small scale and low density that protects the environmental and rural values of
            the land;
         b) is compatible with rural activities and nature conservation; and
         c) does not detract from the rural amenity of adjoining properties.
PO5
Uses such as nature-based tourism, outdoor education, environment facilities and outdoor sport
and recreation may be appropriate where:
         a) they cannot be more appropriately located in urban areas;
         b) they have an indelible connection to rural or ecological values of the site;
         c) there is an overriding community benefit of the development;
         d) they are not located on Agricultural Land Conservation Area as shown on the
            Agricultural Land Overlay Maps in schedule 2 or are temporary in nature so as not to
            compromise agricultural uses in the future; and
         e) they do not interfere with remnant vegetation or ecologically important areas.
The applicant submits that the proposal complies with the key parameter of this Code – PO4 and
PO5 as follows:
While the accommodation component is of greater scale than other hinterland visitor
accommodation, there is no negative environmental impacts as a result. The farm stay is different
to a regular 300 bed resort accommodation facility in that it serves as part of a sustainable
agricultural system, permaculture, which improves the environmental and rural values of the land.
The buildings will not be seen from the surrounding area and are of a design that complements the
rural area. The farming activities on the subject lot and surrounding area are compatible with this
agricultural use as there is no impacts such as overspray or other farming activities that would
create amenity impacts.
While the proposal is for short term accommodation PO5 has some relevancy. The proposal fully
complies with the PO for the following reasons: - a farm stay cannot be located in an urban area -
the farm stay is intrinsically connected to the rural production of the site as permaculture includes
living in harmony with the land and is an integrated land management system which improves the
soil structure and does not harm the environment. - Improving the environmental value of the land
while using it for food production is a community benefit as it is not contributing harmful runoff into
the waterways or soil. - The proposal will employ local people contributing positivity to the
hinterland and rural economy and a great benefit to the rural community. - The farm stay will not
compromise the food production capacity of the land - No interference with native vegetation is
proposed.
The applicant has not provided any information to demonstrate that there is an overwhelming
community benefit for the proposal other than stating that the use will improve the environmental
values of the site and will provide employment. While it is generally agreed that the proposal would
result in some community benefit in terms of local employment, it should also be recognised that
some agricultural uses, such as cropping, may similarly employ up to 50 persons or more though
typically on a seasonal basis.
While it is agreed the nature of the use relies on the rural setting, the scale of the accommodation
and associated buildings significantly exceeds that intended by the Noosa Plan 2020. The Noosa
Plan supports small scale accommodation that is subordinate to the site with buildings not
exceeding a GFA of 250m2 for a lodge and 90m2 for individual buildings. The proposed size of
this development would result in the largest accommodation facility in the Shire’s hinterland and is
not small scale, comprising three villages each with their own dining facilities and a large common