2015-10-13 Planning & Organisation Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                          13 OCTOBER 2015


Council’s Environment Officer agrees with the consultant report and indicates that the
proposal minimises the total footprint within which all structures and driveways are
contained. For these reasons, the proposal is considered to comply with the Overall
Outcomes of the Biodiversity Overlay Code.
3.   CONSULTATION
3.1. IDAS Referral Agencies
Not applicable
3.2. Other Referrals
The application was forwarded to the following internal Council specialists:
   Environment Officer
   Development Engineering Officer

The specialist comments are included as part of this report.
3.3. Public Notification
The application was publicly notified for 15 business days in accordance with the
Sustainable Planning Act 2009. One (1) properly made submission was received. The
following table provides a summary and assessment of the issues raised by submitters.

 Issues                                      Comments

 Electromagnetic radiation from the tower    The summary indicates the proposed tower will
 will cause cancer.                          emit a maximum EME level from the tower,
                                             which is 0.098% of the Australian Radiation
                                             Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency’s
                                             (ARPANSA) regulated acceptable maximum
                                             radiation public exposure limits.

4.   CONCLUSION
The proposed development is for a 41m high tower to be erected within the Davis Road
reserve, Cootharaba for the establishment of the fixed wireless network infrastructure of the
National Broadband Network (NBN). The site is located within the Rural zone and the
proposed Infrastructure use as a Service & Utility Type 3 Tower is identified as an
inconsistent use within the zone.

Despite the inconsistency with the zone, the application has been assessed against the
provisions of The Noosa Plan and does not raise any significant planning concerns. The
tower does not pose an unacceptable risk to public safety. The proposed location is set
amongst existing vegetation and is an acceptable distance away from neighbouring
properties and the major road network, so as not to be visually dominant or obtrusive.

Whilst the proposed use raises a conflict with the Boreen Point, Kin Kin & Cootharaba
Locality Code, it is considered that the following grounds are sufficient to support the
proposal:

1.   The telecommunications facility will provide coverage for the NBN fixed wireless
     network, allowing for the delivery of higher speed data to rural residential households
     in the Cootharaba area; and




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