Ecology and Bushfire RFI - 21 Jirrima Crescent, Cooroibah

Information Required:
7. Ensure compliance with the SPP - State Interest Guidance Material (Natural Hazards, Risk and
Resilience – Bushfire) and Noosa Plan 2020 driveway requirements and provide justification how this
compliance has been met;
8. Amend the application to detail the extent of additional vegetation or other environmental impacts
that would occur to meet compliance with SPP - State Interest Guidance Material (Natural Hazards,
Risk and Resilience – Bushfire) and Noosa Plan 2020 driveway requirements.
9. Include an Ecological Assessment Report detailing the potential impacts to the environment in
particular the mapped riparian buffer and waterway.
10. Detail if vegetation or environmental impacts are to occur how they comply with the SPP in the
first instance and followed by Noosa Plan 2020 and how they will be mitigated or managed.
Response:
It is acknowledged that the submitted Bushfire Hazard Assessment and Management Plan references
the Assessment Benchmarks contained within the SPP - State Interest Guidance Material (Natural
Hazards, Risk and Resilience – Bushfire). The Assessment Benchmarks have typically been referenced
to demonstrate compliance with elements of Council’s Bushfire Hazard Overlay Code such as PO1 and
PO6. Section 2.1 of the Noosa Plan 2020 states that “the Planning Minister is satisfied that the State
Planning Policy (SPP) dated July 2017 has appropriately integrated the Natural hazards, risk and
resilience (Bushfire) provision in the Noosa Council's planning scheme”. Therefore, the Planning
Minister is satisfied that the Performance Objectives and the Acceptable Outcomes detailed within
the Bushfire Hazard Overlay code meet the objectives of the SPP for bushfire.
The Table reproduced from the SPP Guidance Material in Council’s Information request details the
requirements for a dedicated fire trail which is provided specifically for the purpose of firefighting. As
detailed in Section 6.3 of the Bushfire Hazard Assessment and Management Plan submitted with the
application, no formal firebreaks are proposed or deemed warranted within the development. The
proposed access driveway conveys traffic through a generally low hazard area (including the waterway
crossing) and in the opposite direction to the likely source of bushfire to the west. Therefore, the
requirement to replicate the fire trail design parameters detailed in the SPP Guidance Material is
considered excessive and is not warranted in this instance. The existing waterway crossing is
considered sufficient from a bushfire hazard perspective and no vegetation clearing is proposed or
required to mitigate potential bushfire impacts at the waterway crossing point.
Issue:
The State Planning Policy – State Interest Guidance Material (Natural Hazards, Risk and Resilience –
Bushfire) (SPP) requires a reticulated water supply area or a dedicated static water supply available
solely for firefighting purposes. It is noted that swimming pools, farm dams and ponds are not
considered reliable. It is noted within the Bushfire Hazard Assessment and Management Plan that a
permanent dam is to be utilised as the water supply. In addition the proposed dam used for firefighting
purposes is a part of the riparian buffer and waterway which would put the flora and fauna at risk if
used/drained for firefighting activities.
Information Required:
11. Amend the application material including the Bushfire Hazard Assessment and Management Plan
to include a reliable and dedicated source of firefighting water that meets the outcomes of the SPP –
State Interest Guidance Material – Bushfire.




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