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ORDINARY MEETING

22 MAY 2013 5

COOPER ROAD LOCAL AREA FRAMEWORK PLAN

Gerard Rose GR : 8/26/3: #3966472

RECOMMENDATION: A. That Council provides in-principle support for the Cooper Road Future

Urban Structure Plan (Attachment 1). B. That Council notes the Cooper Road Local Area Framework Plan and

acknowledges that detailed technical information relating to the provision of infrastructure within the area will be provided at the time of any future development application within the plan area (Attachment 2).

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: In November 2012 the Sustainable Planning and Other Legislation (SPOLA) Act (No. 2) 2012 repealed the designation for the declared Urban Growth Area over the Mount Peter Master Planned Area. This subsequently removed the requirement for Council to include the proposed Mount Peter Structure Plan in the current CairnsPlan Planning Scheme. As a result of the above, Council will now include future planning provisions for the Mount Peter locality in the new Cairns Region Planning Scheme which is currently under development. Given the timing for the new scheme and the current land within Mount Peter remaining in the Rural 2 Planning Area Council has received a request seeking in principle support of a proposed Cooper Road Local Area Framework Plan. The Cooper Road Local Area Framework Plan reflects the principles, objectives and goals of the Mount Peter Structure Plan with variations incorporated to maintain the integrity of the Structure Plan and the community's Vision for Mount Peter but also to deliver practical development outcomes. Council’s in principle support of the Cooper Road Future Urban Structure Plan is recommended to allow the document to be used in the development assessment process to guide urban development of the plan area in the absence of endorsed planning provisions that are specific to the development of the former Mount Peter Master Planned Area.

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BACKGROUND: The Mount Peter Area is situated to the south of Edmonton and North of Gordonvale on the west of the Bruce Highway. Until November 2012 Council was leading the master planning process for the Mount Peter area inline with a framework set by the State Government which designated the area an “Urban Growth Area” and the main urban growth corridor for Cairns with development expected to occur over the next 20-30 years. The master planning framework set by the State Government included the preparation of a Mount Peter Structure Plan, essentially a land use plan that would detail how different uses of land (residential, commercial, open space, etc.) and intensities of use (low density residential, medium density residential etc.) would be distributed throughout the area. The framework required the Structure Plan to be developed and included in the CairnsPlan Planning Scheme. On 22 November 2012 the Sustainable Planning and Other Legislation (SPOLA) Act (No. 2) 2012 repealed the designation for the declared Urban Growth Area over the Mount Peter Master Planned Area that occurred in May 2008. Amongst other items, the repealing of the designation removed the requirement for Council to include the proposed Mount Peter Structure Plan in the CairnsPlan Planning Scheme. As a result of the above, Council will now include future planning provisions for the Mount Peter area in the new Cairns Region Planning Scheme which is expected to be finalised in 2014. Given the timing for the new scheme and the fact the land within Mount Peter is currently contained within the Rural 2 Planning Area, the landowners have raised concern with the current planning provisions for the site and the implications this has on future development on the site prior to the commencement of the new Planning Scheme. As a means to providing surety and guidance to both the Development Assessment process and landowners, consultants for the landowners have approached Council seeking in principle support of a proposed Cooper Road Local Area Framework Plan. The proposed Cooper Road Local Area Framework Plan (CRLAFP) area covers part of the formerly declared Mount Peter Area and is located approximately 16 kilometres south of the Cairns Central Business District, in the north western corner of Mount Peter. This area is generally consistent with the area previously identified as an area for initial stages of development within Mount Peter.

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COMMENT: Broadly, the Cooper Road Local Area Framework Plan aims to: ● Provide a strategic plan which guides the delivery of a quality urban environment. ● Assist Council with its assessment of development applications in the plan area. ● Provide a document that will inform the development of the new planning scheme. ● Establish the vision for how land can be developed, illustrate the future urban

structure and describe the outcomes for future development. ● Provide developers, investors and local communities with guidance about future

development. The Plan proposes a number of objectives for the future development of the Cooper Road Local Area as outlined below:

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Housing

• Provide a diversity of lot sizes and housing types to meet the needs of the new and emerging community.

• Establish medium and higher density development in proximity to the centres, open space and public transport routes.

• Provide medium and higher density development with a strong relationship to the public realm.

Neighbourhood Structure

• Establish strong pedestrian connections between the neighbourhoods and the centre.

• Deliver a holistic settlement pattern integrated across the existing cadastral boundaries.

• Use parks and local centres to give neighbourhoods their own focal point and identity.

Identity, Character & Landscape

• To connect the new community to the history of Mount Peter by detailing its story throughout the built environment.

• To design a settlement pattern that uses the areas natural features to terminate vistas.

• To deliver landmark buildings at Gateway locations along Mount Peter Road that draw residents and visitors toward the centre.

• To create a series of well-connected neighbourhoods with unique built form characteristics.

• To protect the landscape features that gives Mount Peter its unique and enviable landscape character.

Connectivity

• Establish a hierarchy of roads that provide permeability for all users and connection to destinations within the precinct and beyond.

• Provide safe and comfortable pedestrian and cycling networks between the precinct's open space, parks and other destinations.

• Provide pedestrian connections predominantly along the road network in locations where passive surveillance from adjoining development is greatest.

Town Centre & Employment

• Provide a safe, functional and accessible centre that reflects the desirable principles of traditional civic place making.

• Provide landmark buildings at the intersection of the main street and Mount Peter Road.

• The centre provides employment opportunities for local people and contributes to increased levels of self-containment.

• Deliver community facilities within the centre. • Provide a robust public space in the town centre that can adapt to a variety of

community events and activities.

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Natural Systems & Heritage • The natural assets of the area are retained and continue to define the area's

character. • The cultural heritage of Mount Peter is respected and development addresses

cultural heritage features in a manner that retains the significance. • The ecological and habitat values of the watercourses and natural vegetation is

enhanced. Servicing • Provide all lots with an appropriate level of service for potable water supply,

electricity, reticulated sewerage, drainage and telecommunications; • Promote the conservation, reuse and recycling of water through innovative

solutions involving alternative water supplies as well as water use and its management.

As part of the submission of the proposed plan Council undertook and internal review of the document within a number of internal branches and departments. As part of this internal review comments were provided to the consultants relating to a number of items for the plan. In general, Council Officers were in support of the overall concept and layout of the proposed Cooper Road Structure Plan. It was noted that the plan generally aligns with and provides an additional level of detail and design for the Master Planning Unit 2 Area and Master Planning Unit 4 Area in the former Mount Peter Structure Planning Documentation previously prepared by Council. During internal review process it was recognised that further technical information was required on the items of traffic modelling and the further detail relating to the proposed infrastructure charging regime for the area. For the purposes of providing in-principle support of the Urban Structure layout this was not considered essential information however more detailed technical information will be required for the future development applications. Overall the submitted Cooper Road Local Area Framework Plan broadly aligns with Council’s vision for Mount Peter as outlined in the Council’s Mount Peter Structure Plan documentation. The Plan reflects the principles, objectives and goals of the Mount Peter Structure Plan with variations required to maintain the integrity of the Structure Plan and the community's Vision for Mount Peter but also to deliver practical development outcomes.

CONSULTATION:

Landowners of the Mount Peter study area, residents and businesses of Gordonvale and Edmonton, local school students, community groups, sporting associations, Council State Agencies and others have all been involved for a large majority of the previous planning undertaken for Mount Peter which resulted in the draft Mount Peter Structure Plan documentation which has been used to inform the Cooper Road Local Area Framework Plan.

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CONSIDERATIONS:

Risk Management (including financials): The budget allocation has been accommodated within the Planning Strategies Budget to review the proposed Cooper Road Local Area Framework Plan. Corporate and Operational Plans: Corporate Plan 2009 – 2014 The proposed Cooper Road Local Area Framework Plan supports the following objectives contained in the plan. 3.1 Implement an integrated approach to planning by Council and stakeholders 3.2 Deliver integrated provision of physical and social infrastructure in existing and

future parts of the region 3.7 Promote good urban design outcomes which are responsive to the region’s

tropical environment and unique character 5.4 Encourage self-containment of communities through the integration and co-

location of employment with residential development and public transport

Statutory: On 22 November 2012 the Sustainable Planning and Other Legislation (SPOLA) Act (No. 2) 2012 repealed the designation for the declared Urban Growth Area over the Mount Peter Master Planned Area The Cooper Road Local Area Framework Plan is not a statutory document but rather a guiding document to inform future development applications in the Mount Peter area. Policy:

The Cooper Road Local Area Framework Plan will not from part of the Planning Scheme CairnsPlan but will inform future Development Applications in the plan area and the future Cairns Region Planning Scheme

Sustainability:

The Sustainability Scorecard assessment of the proposed plan gives predominantly neutral outcomes. The outcome of the plan does present opportunities for a reduction in travel and non-travel related GHG emission and employment in the region.

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CONCLUSION Council’s in principle support of the Cooper Road Future Urban Structure Plan will allow the document to be used in the development assessment process to guide urban development of the plan area in the absence of endorsed planning provisions that are specific to the development of the former Mount Peter Master Planned Area. Noting the balance of the Cooper Road Local Area Framework Plan will enable future detailed technical information relating to the provision of Infrastructure within the area to be provided at the time of any future development application within the plan area. Options That Council: ● Provide in principle in-support for the Cooper Road Future Urban Structure Plan; and ● Notes the balance of the Cooper Road Local Area Framework Plan and

recognises that detailed technical information relating to the provision of Infrastructure within the area will be provided at the time of any future development application within the plan area.

OR

That Council: ● Notes Cooper Road Local Area Framework Plan.

ATTACHMENTS:

Attachment 1 – Cooper Road Future Urban Structure Plan (Executive Attachment) Attachment 2 – Cooper Road Local Area Framework Plan #3970897 Gerard Rosse Strategic Planning Officer Peter Boyd Manager Strategic Planning & Economic Development

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Attachment 1 – Cooper Road Future Urban Structure Plan (executive attachment)

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Attachment 2 – Cooper Road Local Area Framework Plan

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