MCU12/0012 Notice of submission Layla Fowler (signed original)

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                      4. Transport and Vehicle traffic.
                      1.."We shall,advertise a(1d promote the tours wit(7 a courtesy free mini bus service. This service will provide
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                      d09r to door collecpon
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                                                        nd drop off.
                      The applicant does not mention the areas that his courtesy free mini bus will service in his application, but
                      verbally, no!ed that ri. ers from areas such as Gympie will most probably come by private car as there are no
                      .bus faciUties to Cooran from Gympie. Also the train timetables indicate train services to and from Cooran north
                      and south are intermittent and occur only during limited periods in the day and night. It is not unreasonable to
                      foresee an increa$e of traffic to the applicant’s property and along Tablelands Road which will increase erosion
                       and increase the frequency and cost of maintenance of Tablelands Road.


                      2. This will also dramatically increase the risk factor of accidents along this narrow, undulating, rocky and

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                      sweeping road as the tours will be operating twice daily, 7 times a week. With this in mind it is astonishing that
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            ";’,      our local police department have issued conditional registration for the volume and number of the quad bikes

(,-;                  and tours al ng Tablelands Road proposed in this application. Furthermore, despite the dangerous road
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                      conditions along Tablelands Road, the policeman states in his letter/permit that he has "no concerns for the
                      safety ofyour clients or other genera’l road users, traversing Tablelands road and Hill road, should you adhere
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                      to the Road Rules and other regulations.


; :’.’                With this increase risk to safety on Tablelands Road to and from the applicant’s property and the National Park,
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                      on what grounds can the material change of use be issued? Quad Bikes are the highest cause of fatalities on

                      farms. How will the council approve such a material change of use based on the recent report by Australian
                      Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety (ACAHS)which states "Quad bikes are the leading cause of farm
                      accidents /I http:Uwww.workcovergld.com.au/news/20 12/guad-bikes-are-the-leading-cause-of-farm-accidents
                      WORKCOVER OLD



                      5. Driveway and              Parking
                      Parking is proposed at the main entry to the property where the applicant currently resides as well as near the
                      shed down the second driveway of the property. The main entry is situated on the side of a hill, and as
                      neighbouring residents, there are concerns for the use of this narrow and high set parking facilities being an
                      unsafe option for parking. Other neighbours have also expressed verbally their concern for parking of vehicles
                      since the provisions are limited. Access of vehicles into and out of the property along both driveways will also
                      cause an impact on traffic on Tablelands Road. Visually, for those already on the road, it will be difficult to see
                      the vehicles leaving and entering due to the curves in the road and the narrow conditions of the road.


                      6: Noise.
                      The applicant has in my opinion and in my discussion with motor bike mechanic incorrectly stated that:


                          1. "With the location and thick vegetation no one outside of the property should be able to hear any noise"
                      The noise impact of 12 bik             s   preparing for the tour as well as demonstrating their bike riding capabilities will
                          have a severe impact on the noise levels, since we have on many occasions being able to hear people
                      speaking, music playing as well as the ongoing chainsaw activities since works started on building the
                      structures located in the trough / valley of 298 Tablelands Rd property
                      The noise impact of the operation of the bike tours travelling up Tablelands Road and entering the National
                      Park will again directly impact heavily upon the residences directly opposite the National Park as well as those
                          residences and properties along the route to the National Park.


                      2. ’’The Quad bikes to be used are of the latest technology designed to be as quite as possible. These bikes
                      are not performance machines and are usually used for farming or hunting. both of which require minimal noise
                      output ancFa$ such have been designed to be the lowest of all emissions.
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                      There are nc)details provided about the Make and/or Model of the bikes mentioned in this point to ascertain,
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                      qualify or quantify this claim made by the applicant. Even the quietest quad bike is still noisy. Therefore this
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                      statement by theapplical’)t is irrelevant since the source and proof of information is not provided.
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                      3. ’~s our noise levels will be controlled, there wil! be no further impact to noise on the route of our tours. /I
                          From my discussions with bike mechanics it will be difficult to govern the throttle of these bikes without
                      impacting on their ability to make the climb from the trough of 298 Tablelands Road where they will be stationed
                          up to Tablelands Road and then further up the hill to the National Park entrance. Furthermore the National Park
                          has steep undulations which will require a fuller increase in throttle for the bikes to climb the slopes and for the
                      bikes to be ridden safely on the descents on the park road and on Tablelands Rd. This requirement by the
                      applicant to have the 12 quad bikes leave the proposed property, traverse up and down Tablelands Road and
                      ride through the National Park main road will have a greater noise impact on the neighbouring residence as
                      well as the wil life. It is unheard of to make a claim, as the applicant has made, that "there will be no further
                      impact to npise on the route of tours"



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