2020-08-11 Planning & Environment Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                  11 AUGUST 2020


Specific Outcomes
O1    Uses are located, designed and operated to avoid significant adverse changes to the light,
      air quality, noise, accessibility or other conditions enjoyed by users of associated, adjoining
      or nearby uses.
O9    There are no significant adverse effects on biodiversity, native vegetation, native fauna
      habitat, landscape quality, water quality or cultural heritage values, including those related
      to -
      a)   changes to natural drainage;
      b)   disturbance of the dune system and wetland system;
      c)   management of fire risk;
      d)   erosion and the transport of sediments off site;
      e)   unmanaged public access;
      f)   effluent disposal;
      g)   changes to fauna habitat and behaviour; and h) disturbance of buildings and features,
           including natural features, of cultural heritage significance
The proposal does not achieve the above relevant Outcomes of the Noosa North Shore Locality
Code. The inclusion of a 4,000m2 lagoon/wave pool is not ‘low key’, and has the potential to
result in adverse amenity and environmental impacts throughout the construction process.
The lagoon/wave pool is not low impact or of a domestic scale, and is not directly related to
recreational experiences offered in the locality, which are based around the areas natural
environment. The proposal is not consistent with the amenity expectations of the community,
which anticipates that the area will retain its primary role as a coastal area largely dedicated to
conservation, where development is secondary to and dominated by its open space setting, with
a very low intensity and scale of operation. In addition, the development does not promote the
natural environment of the area, instead relying on built infrastructure as the main attraction.
Vegetation Removal
The application material included an Ecological Assessment Report, which states:
      A total of approximately 1.3ha of vegetation mapped as an Environmental Protection Area
      under Noosa Plan 2006 is proposed to be cleared/modified to locate the lagoon and the
      proposed new dwelling inclusive of bushfire safety setbacks to achieve a BAL 29 AS
      3959:2018 construction Standard (12m APZ).
      Approximately 0.15ha is required to be cleared to accommodate the new dwelling unit.
      Approximately 1.15ha of vegetation mapped as an Environmental Protection Area under
      Noosa Plan 2006 and Category C vegetation under the VM Act 1999, is proposed to be
      cleared to accommodate the lagoon.
      This calculation is based on the lagoon footprint only and has not considered additional
      vegetation which may require clearing to provide construction access and working areas
      outside of the lagoon footprint.
The proposal to clear 1.3 hectares of threatened species habitat of high value regrowth
vegetation would result in significant adverse effects on the biodiversity, native vegetation, native
fauna habitat and landscape quality of the site. Visitor accommodation on the site is expected to
integrate with the landscape and retain existing vegetation with limited clearing.
Noise
The application material included an Environmental Noise Level Impact Assessment. Noise
generating components of the proposal include people, pumps and the blowers used to generate
the waves. It is noted that the noise data used for the Assessment was not specific to the design

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