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Landscape and Visual Assessment Report SEPTEMBER 2003

 

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VISIBILITY

(Refer Figure 2 — Visual Catchment)

Views from Noosa River, Laguna Bay and Lake Cooroibah to Noosa North Shore are
dominated by the defined landscape edge of the Noosa North Shore perimeter
vegetation.

The landscape edge located along the northern banks of the Noosa River provides a
valuable natural backdrop which is highly visible from Tewantin, Gympie Terrace (a
popular access road along the River}, the lineal parkland system located along the
southern bank of the River, and from development located along Noosa Sound.
Visibility from the extensively utilised river is also highly valued to the region. (Refer
Plate 1) The riverside vegetation restricts views into much of the North Shore interior
from many of these vantage points, however the elevated hinterland ranges and hills
provide a prominent backdrop and defined horizon line to the landscape.

The North Shore possesses a strong visual relationship to the popular tourist
beaches of Laguna Bay and the mouth of the Noosa River. The visual relationship of
these locations to the North Shore landscape is predominantly to the frontal dune
vegetation located along the North Shore beaches. (Refer Plate 1)This highly valued
scenic panorama is reinforced by the contrasting landform between the foreshore
landscape of the North Shore and the prominent vegetated hinterland hills and
mountains.

Panoramic views of the North shore landscape are visible from elevated medium rise
development located along Hastings Street and Noosa Sound with visibility of the
landscape becoming more extensive with increasing elevation up Noosa Hill and
surrounding areas. (Refer to Plate 2) From these elevated vantage points the scenic
panorama experienced is of an untouched wildemess landscape of very high scenic
value.

Identification of the North Shore is clearly defined as the surrounding water edges of
Laguna Bay, the Noosa River and Lake Cooroibah separate the landscape from the
surrounding mainland.

Strong visual links to the North Shore are also available from the western hinterland
ranges and settlement located along the edges of Lake Cooroibah and Lake
Cootharaba. (Refer to Plate 3 and 4) Views from these vantage points provide a
predominantly natural landscape with views to the slightly elevated hills of the North
Shore interior. Views are however dominated by the prominent visual edge of the
foreshore vegetation located along the lakes’ perimeters.

Many 4WD enthusiasts, tourist and charter coaches travel through the southem
Noosa North Shore daily via the Tewantin ferry crossing and along Maximillian and
Beach Roads en route to Double [sland Point, Forty Mile Beach, Rainbow Beach and

 

Noosa North Shore Eco-Tourism Portal -4-

TERRAIN CONSULTANTS