ATTCH 2 - IR Response - Ecological and Bushfire IR Response (Cardno)

: WE17035                                                                    3
13 November 2017


Council has also requested “… an analysis of the clearing required for provision of sight lines for safe access
as required in Item 13 of this Information Request.” In respect of that issue the following responses are
provided.

     a) In the absence of the proposed development approximately 0.40 hectares of vegetation extending
        along the Site’s David Low Way boundary would be required to achieve required safe sight distances.
        The approximate location and extent of that vegetation clearance is indicated on Vegetation
        Management Plan - Construction Phase - Plan Ref WE17035-CVMP-001 presented in Annexure A.

     b) The location and extent of vegetation clearance required to establish necessary sight lines, including
        any associated earthworks, for the proposed shared Site access are also illustrated on Vegetation
        Management Plan - Construction Phase - Plan Ref WE17035-CVMP-001 presented in Annexure A.

     c) The 0.06 hectares of vegetation that requires clearance is:

                 -     comprised of a mixture of native and non-native plant species growing in areas that have
                       previously been subject to disturbance associated with the establishment of David Low Way,
                       adjacent pathway and establishment of existing dwellings on the Site;

                 -     is not vegetation of local or regional conservation significance; and

                 -     is not vegetation located within the 50m wide Riparian Buffer Area.

     d) The establishment of safe sight lines for the proposed shared Site entrance may, subject to detailed
        design and survey, require the removal of an existing fig (Ficus obliqua) tree located to the south-east
        of the existing Site entrance. If this fig tree cannot be retained in-situ it will be translocated to a
        currently disturbed area (i.e. the existing Site entrance) which will be rehabilitated. Indicative details
        concerning the location for that translocation and the manner in which it would be carried out are
        provided in Vegetation Management Plan - Construction Phase - Plan Ref WE17035-CVMP-001-002
        presented in Annexure A.

     e) To ensure that the required vegetation clearance does not result in adverse impacts to scenic amenity
        values of the Site locality, the proposed plan of development makes provision for a 10m wide vegetated
        buffer along the Site’s David Low Way frontage. The retained and restored vegetation within this 10m
        wide buffer will be the subject of a statutory Environment Covenant and a program of weed control
        and rehabilitation works. Details concerning the legally binding vegetation management obligations
        that will attached to these retained and rehabilitated areas of vegetation are provided in Vegetation
        Management Plan – Operational Phase - Plan Ref WE17035-OVMP-001-002 presented in Annexure
        B.

As detailed in the Ecological Assessment Report (Cardno, 8 August 2017) submitted in support of the
Application and confirmed below, the clearance of vegetation to establish necessary sight lines would not be
in conflict the Biodiversity Overlay Code.


Biodiversity Overlay Area – Environmental Protection
The planning scheme is designates the lot as having an Environmental Protection area. A review of
the supplied information does not adequately address this designation.

Information Required
2.         Provide an analysis of the vegetation on the lot with regards to the Environmental Protection
           designation and the Vegetation of Noosa Shire, Ed 2, 2003.

A detailed analysis of the vegetation on the Site against the criteria for classification as an Environmental
Protection Area and the Vegetation of Noosa Shire (Ed 2, 2003) has been provided in Table 5-3 in Section
5.3.1 of the Ecological Assessment Report (Cardno, 8 August 2017) submitted in support of Application. That
analysis demonstrates that the vegetation on the Site does not possess the attributes that warrant classification
as either an Environmental Protection Area or an Environmental Enhancement Area.



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