2015-11-10 Planning & Organisation Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                               10 NOVEMBER 2015


Water detention and treatment device
A dam has been constructed within the Riparian Buffer Area adjacent the northern corner of the
greenhouse, without the necessary Operational Works approvals. The application proposes to
reconstruct this dam as a water filtration device in the same location to detain the roof water from
the greenhouse. Council’s Environment Officer recommends the infrastructure to be located
outside of the mapped Riparian Buffer Area and a condition is recommended accordingly.
Buffer Areas
The Agricultural Uses Code seeks vegetated buffers between cultivated areas and watercourses,
to reduce impacts on environmentally sensitive areas. The greenhouse is located outside the
Riparian Buffer Area and the crop is within a controlled greenhouse, which helps limit the release
of nutrients to the external environment. Apart from times of major flooding, the greenhouse is
unlikely to have adverse impacts on the surrounding waterway and existing vegetation buffers
surrounding the waterway will assist in slowing and filtering water before entering the adjoining
drainage lines.
Traffic, Access & Parking
The applicant submitted a Traffic Impact Report concluding the road network has capacity to
cater for the expected traffic movements associated with the uses. However, the existing access
from 305 Lake Macdonald Drive has not been constructed in accordance with Council’s
standards and is not suitable for its increased use. As a result, the applicant has negotiated
access for heavy vehicles through the adjoining Wimmers site (271 Lake Macdonald Drive).

As this access will be in constant use and is subject to occasional flooding, conditions are
recommended for it to be designed and constructed with an “all weather surface”. A condition is
also recommended for the existing access to Lake Macdonald Drive be used for the existing
dwelling and emergency access.
4.    CONSULTATION
4.1. IDAS Referral Agencies
Nil
4.2. Other Referrals
The application was forwarded to the following internal Council specialists:
    Coordinator Development Engineering
    Environment Officer (Landscaping & Ecology)
    Environment Officer (Water Quality)
    External Consultant (Hydrology & Water Management Consulting Pty Ltd)

4.3. Public Notification
The application is required to follow a code assessable application process and public notification
is not required.
5.    CONCLUSION
The application is the result of compliance action associated with the construction of a 2ha
greenhouse on an existing turf farm at 305 Lake Macdonald Drive. The changes to the scale and
intensity of the greenhouse require a development application, with the use being a consistent
use within the Rural zone and subject to code assessment.

Through the course of the application process the applicant has addressed impacts associated
with increased traffic movements by negotiating an access easement through the adjoining
Wimmers site. The applicant has also connected power to the site and includes a stormwater
management plan to detain the water from the substantial roof area.


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