PM Submission - John Cochrane - MCU21/0110

“Adamson Town Planning, specialising in providing higher order town planning advice”



                  Planning Policy – Natural Hazard, Risks and Resilience, Technical Report methodology after
                  Leonard et al (2014).

             3. The area of vegetation in and surrounding Girraween Nature Refuge is also confirmed to be
                an area of High Potential Bushfire Intensity area.

             4. Based on the proposed layout plan the development will fall within the 100-metre-wide
                Potential Impact Buffer Area under the and a response to the Natural Hazards Overlay Code
                – Bushfire Hazard Areas will be required, see Appendix I below.

             5. Based on the requirements of the Noosa Plan 2020, the development will require a response
                to the Bushfire Hazard Overlay Code and will require a Bushfire Management Plan8.

         The bushfire expert has advised that the development will occur primarily over land that is already
         cleared and be utilised for structures like tennis courts and landscaping. The hazardous vegetation
         retained in proximity to the development site is separated by Resort Drive, tennis courts and
         auxiliary parking which will provide a buffer between hazardous vegetation and proposed
         structures. The Bushfire Expert has addressed the relevant performance outcomes in Appendix I
         of the BHA (Appendix E).

         A number of recommendations are provided in the BHA, namely:
            1. Building Location:
                   a) A minimum setback between any future habitable structures and the edge of
                       potential hazardous vegetation is 15.7 metres which achieves a radiant heat flux of
                       less than 29kW/m² and as such an acceptable level of risk as defined under the State
                       Planning Policy, Natural Hazards, Risk and Resilience.

             2. Landscaping:
                   a) Two bands of understorey treatment should be considered in the landscape planning
                      where maximum distances are permitted:
                         i.  a band of vegetation up to 20-metre-wide along Resort Drive is to contain
                             100% of less flammable plant species.
                        ii.  the remaining area greater than 20m from Resort Drive can contain no less
                             than 50% less flammable plant species in the understorey and groundcover.

                       b) A list of recommended “less flammable” plant species which could be utilised within
                          the landscaping of this area is contained in Appendix III. The use of less flammable
                          plant species should comprise of a minimum 70% of all groundcover and understorey
                          species to be used in this area.

             3. Vehicle Access:
                   a) As there are constraints with the existing vehicle access, into the site, improvements
                       to the Resort Drive verge the removal of vegetation from along the roads edge to
                       extend the width of accessible road reserve is required. This will improve sight lines
                       and impacts of vegetation with resident vehicles and emergency vehicle response.


         8 Bushfire Hazard Assessment, Conclusion, page 15




         Noosa Springs Boutique Hotel – GH Australia Pty Ltd                               Page 45