2017-06-06 Planning & Environment Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                        6 JUNE 2017


2.2. Background
The site represents a minor section of the Noosa Business Centre (NBC). No previous
development approvals have been sought for this section of the NBC.
The majority of the NBC is situated on the opposite side of Walter Hay Drive and has partly been
developed with the Noosa Civic established in October 2006 as Stage 1. Stage 1 involved the
establishment of a discount department store based shopping centre of approximately 23,900m 2
gross floor area, along with 7,200m2 gross floor of retail showrooms, a service station and
4,925m2 gross floor area of commercial office space. As part of the approval for Stage 1, Lot 3
SP182845 was dedicated as open space to the State.
A Stage 2 development was approved by Council in 2008 and comprised four office buildings
with a combined gross floor area of 7,701m2 but never proceeded and the approval has lapsed.
This area along the NBC’s western boundary was subsequently subdivided and is currently being
developed for a number of industrial uses.
There have been no previous development applications for the land subject to this application.
2.3. Surrounding Land Uses
To the north the site adjoins Noosa National Park and Eenie Creek Road. Further north is Noosa
Domain Village, a residential retirement village. To the east the site adjoins an easement
containing electricity infrastructure and further east is Noosa National Park.
To the south is Walter Hay Drive, which is the primary entry road to Noosa from the south.
Further south on the balance of the lot is Noosa Civic and the Shire Business Centre, the
principle activity centre for Noosa.
2.4. Pre-lodgement Discussions
A formal pre-lodgement meeting was held with the applicant’s key consultants and
representatives of the property owner and Arcare on 4 February 2016. The discussions focussed
on the primary planning issues to be assessed including need, grounds for support, access,
bushfire, vegetation retention and building design.
Bushfire was identified as a critical issue given the proximity to National Park areas, retained
vegetation and the aged care use proposed.
Advice was also provided that Council staff would likely support an amended building location
that moves the development east toward the HV Electricity easement. It was recognised that this
introduces additional conflicts with the eastern strip of Open Space Conservation zoned land but
may be demonstrated to provide a better outcome in relation to:
a.    Retention of tracts of contiguous vegetation rather than the 13m wide strip of vegetation
      (and showing no net loss of vegetation); and
b.    Improved Bushfire protection outcomes.
3.    ASSESSMENT
3.1. Instruments for Statutory Assessment
Under the Sustainable Planning Act 2009 the application must be assessed against each of the
following statutory planning instruments to the extent they are relevant to the development:
    State Planning Policies;
    the South East Queensland Regional Plan;
    State Planning Regulatory Provisions;
    any Structure Plan or Master Plan in place for declared areas;
    any Preliminary Approval Overriding the Planning Scheme for the land;
    the Planning Scheme for the local government area; and
    any Temporary Local Planning Instrument in place for the local government area.

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