ASTP-Rspns_To_RFI

Information Request Item No.                                                            Response
Information Required
Clarify what will be contained in the ‘services’ room, how it will accessed, and how
ventilation will work etc.
4 & 5. Swimming pools                                                                   Item 4 – Council are seeking that a landscape buffer be provided between the
There is concern where the swimming pools have a minor setback to the side              swimming pools and southern side boundary onsite. Further, during the meeting
boundaries, this avails no space for landscaping and separation between adjoining       discussions held with Council on 28 July 2022, the assessing officer indicated that
land uses. It is not clear whether the pools are sited above natural ground and if so   Council are seeking a minimum 0.5m wide landscape strip in this location. It is noted
to what extent (i.e. will the respective pools contribute to site cover).               that neither the QDC or Council’s Planning Scheme Codes nominate a setback
                                                                                        requirement for swimming pools, or a requirement to provide a landscape buffer
Information Required                                                                    along the side or rear boundaries of a site. Council have therefore not clearly
4. Provide a greater setback to the side boundaries where immediate to the              demonstrated how the proposed development does not comply with the
    respective swimming pools to allow for landscaping to be established.               Assessment Benchmarks of the Code.
5. Provide cross sections of the swimming pools to show whether the respective
    pools will be greater than 1 metre above NGL and therefore contribute to site       Should the applicant amend the design to provide a 0.5m wide landscape buffer
    cover.                                                                              along the southern side boundary, it is not guaranteed that this landscape buffer
    a. Revise planning report, and site cover calculations should the pools be          would perform any legitimate screening or acoustic buffering function. In reality, if a
         sited above 1 metre NGL                                                        landscape buffer were to be provided between the pool and the fence, the applicant
                                                                                        would likely provide only ground covers, given that shrub and tree species would
                                                                                        drop leaves into the pool and cause maintenance issues. Further, any landscapes
                                                                                        provided in this location are unlikely to exceed the height of the boundary fence,
                                                                                        given that there are limited species available that can be planted in a 0.5m wide
                                                                                        garden bed adjoining a pool wall below ground. Overall, having a setback of 0.5
                                                                                        metres to the pool will be a negligible change, with the visual and acoustic impacts
                                                                                        of a backyard swimming pool being evident whether it is on the boundary or setback
                                                                                        0.5 metres. Further, having a 0.5 metre setback will enable persons to walk between
                                                                                        the pool and the fence and enter the pool from the southern side. This will
                                                                                        undoubtably result in worsened noise impacts from splashing on the southern side
                                                                                        of the pool.




   Our ref: 220417                                                                                                                                            Page 3 of 15