2017-06-06 Planning & Environment Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                              6 JUNE 2017


4.1. Other Referrals
The application was forwarded to the following internal Council specialists:
   Strategic Planning
   Engineering
Strategic Planning Comments included:
The planning scheme does not envisage a residential use on this property. The overall outcomes
for Noosaville locality suggest the site will contain a minor recreation / minor mixed use with open
space on the site. Initial work on Master Plan 1 and Master Plan 2 suggested the site be
allocated to formal indoor and outdoor recreation use, although predominantly outdoor functions.
The planning scheme allows for a single storey building height of 6 metres. The intent for single
storey buildings dates back 10/15 years to the early master planning. Mature vegetation on site,
however includes tall species and should a vegetated buffer along the road frontage be retained
a 2 storey building could be relatively well screened.
There is an increasing demand for residential aged care (as distinct from independent living
retirement village) in Noosa and suitable sites are obviously limited.
Pedestrian connectivity to this site is poor, even with the existence of grade separated pathways.
Any development of the site should improve wayfinding and pathway approaches to the existing
network so that connection with the adjoining centre and transport is more logical.
4.2. Public Notification
The application was publicly notified for 15 business days in accordance with the Sustainable
Planning Act 2009. The applicant provided a Notice of Compliance on 20 December 2016,
certifying the advertising was correctly undertaken. 25 submissions, comprising 23 properly
made submissions and 2 not properly made submissions, were received by Council. One
petition was received with 1381 signatures relating to the protection of koala habitat.
Submissions were received from a number of community groups and other bodies objecting to
the development, including Noosa Koala Sitings, Wildlife Queensland Preservation Society of
Sunshine Coast and Hinterland, Koala Rescue Inc, Friends of Lake Weyba, Noosa Biosphere
Association, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service.
The following table provides a summary and assessment of the issues raised by submitters.
 Issues                                                 Comments
 Object
 Natural Environment
                                                        The development footprint within the NBC site
 Natural environment of Noosa has already been
                                                        has been committed for development, with areas
 destroyed by developments.
                                                        of highest ecological importance previously
 Developers should be looking at land areas that
                                                        dedicated for conservation. The development
 have already been developed rather than seeking to
                                                        does not raise insurmountable environmental
 take the least cost option of acquiring public land.
                                                        conflicts.
 Koala habitat in Noosa Shire is already endangered
                                                        Koalas are known to occur in the area. The
 and this development will face further pressure on
                                                        location of main roads, Walter Hay Drive and
 koalas.
                                                        Eenie Creek Road, has resulted in koala car
 Plenty of vacant areas that can be utilised without
                                                        strikes. The cleared powerline easement and
 destroying Koala habitat.
                                                        existing road network presents a threat to
 As land adjoins Noosa National Park to the east this
                                                        existing koala numbers. Additional clearing for
 tract of land is a koala/wildlife corridor.
                                                        the development will result in the loss of koala
 Offsets are not appropriate for current koala
                                                        habitat however will remove a food source from
 population.
                                                        adjacent road network.
 Proponent has not identified a physical area in the
                                                        The positioning of the development will likely
 region appropriate to provide an offset and in
                                                        influence the management of the adjacent
 contrast has offered a cash payment to Council as
                                                        National Park for bushfire, resulting in additional
 an offset.
                                                        resources being dedicated to reduce the risk of
 Koala Conservation Plan has been written to protect
                                                        bushfire. QPWS states the development will

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