1 White Gums Road Hatton Vale QLD 4341

Koalas live in there

Koalas live in this area. We have had a koala in our back yard (7 Sandstone Drive) dated 16 July 2024. We have photos if required. Our neighbour has also had koalas & photos to evidence ( gumtree court. Another neighbour has photo of a mum & her joey (25 July 2024). Often hear the male calling.
This is a very active Koala area.

I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed development in the Lakes View Estate, Hatton Vale, Between White Gum Road and Sandstone Drive. This area is where koalas and kangaroos currently reside. A drive around the estate reveals how vital this land is for our local wildlife. The natural habitat supports a rich ecosystem, and encroaching on this area would have severe consequences for these iconic Australian species.

Our community values its natural and unique opportunity to coexist with such wildlife. I urge you to reconsider the development plans and prioritise preserving this crucial habitat.

Thank you for your attention to matter.

There must be a way to place an objection to this planning application. The wildlife that habitats this area is so diverse. It would be an absolute travesty if planning permission is granted in this proposed area.

This is quite clearly a very active koala corridor. Multiple neighbours that surround this proposed area have sighted them, including myself with photos and videos dating back 5th November 2023. Not to mention the kangaroos and multitude of joey's we have seen in and around the area. It is a safe haven for them as they are left alone, admired and respected by those in the estate and by those who pass through. Granting permission for this proposal to go ahead would be nothing short of unethical.

The proposal drawings show Core Koala Habitat being left undeveloped / protected - presumably because of its value as koala habitat.

Many of us have seen koalas in the area recently, with pics being posted on socials. My wife posted one recently of an adult koala hugging its young joey, sitting in a tree in the corridor behind the new homes on Sunrise Ct and Lakesfront Place. This corridor allows kangaroos and koalas to move between the Core Koala Habitat and neighbouring bush.

I want to know how the Council plans to protect the koalas migrating between this protected Core Koala Habitat and neighbouring habitat areas using Koala Sensitive Design Principles.

The current proposal shows the lifestyle block, located on the corner of Hannant Rd and Sandstone Drive, as severing/ blocking any corridor to neighbouring areas.

There needs to be a corridor left for koalas to migrate safely and details provided on Koala Sensitive Urban Design principles which minimise threats and risks to koalas.

Last year LVRC celebrated ‘Save the Koala Month’ in September and lauded their efforts at saving these much-loved, furry animals. I hope they still value them this year.

I request that this Development Application (DA) be impact assessed rather than code assessed, as there are several significant issues raised by the local community that warrant closer scrutiny.

Koala Habitat: The area in question is known to be a Koala habitat. It appears that the developer's report conveniently indicates minimal Koala movement in the proposed development zones. It is crucial to determine whether the fauna report was conducted over an extended period, including night-time thermal imaging, to accurately assess Koala activity. Additionally, has the Lockyer Valley Council conducted an independent evaluation of the habitat, or has it relied solely on the developer's report?

Land Use Concerns: The application proposes five lifestyle lots: four for residential use and one earmarked for future rezoning as a daycare center. When purchasing our property, we were assured by the developers sales team that the Lockyer Valley Council wouldnt be approving works in this corridor due to the fauna habitat, It appears that the fifth lot was never intended for lifestyle use but rather for commercial purposes. Given the presence of three existing daycare centers and another under construction nearby, approving this daycare center would be detrimental to both the Koala habitat and the quality of life for current residents. Therefore, I urge the council to reject the daycare center proposal.

BAL Ratings: The current BAL (Bushfire Attack Level) rating in the report indicates a medium risk, which contrasts with the BAL rating of 40 (reduced to 29 with additional upgrades) for my similar property. This discrepancy warrants further investigation to ensure accurate and consistent risk assessments.

Stormwater and Runoff: With the addition of the proposed lots, it is important to evaluate the impact on the existing stormwater infrastructure and downstream runoff. Will the current infrastructure be able to handle the increased load, and what measures will be taken to mitigate potential issues?

Tree Clearing: Continued tree clearing by developers in this area threatens the displacement of local fauna, including Koalas. While incremental clearing may seem minor, it accumulates over time and risks eliminating the habitat entirely. The council must consider the long-term impacts on wildlife and ensure that adequate protections are in place.

Thank you for considering these concerns.

I am writing to voice my concerns regarding the proposed development and future re-zoning for one of the lots as a childcare centre.

My wife and I were one of the first people to buy into our estate, and as such had many hoops to jump through regarding building envelopes and protecting existing tree’s. During this process the LVRC as well as the developers assured that the area included a Koala protected zone that was unable to be built upon or cleared. This appears to no longer be a concern, I strongly urge that this is not forgotten.

Whilst lifestyle blocks will continue to be developed within our region; deploying a childcare centre with the vision to include a thoroughfare from White Gums Road in the middle of this estate would severely encroach on what would be considered lifestyle blocks.

Not only will this create concerns regarding noise, constant traffic in an estate that wasn’t designed for such high throughput. This proposed development heavily impacts the natural beauty and natural habit of the Koalas and Kangaroos that live within. It has been heavily documented with photographic proof that this is an active Koala zone. We personally have over a dozen kangaroos on our block every single day that live in this proposed development.

Allowing such a DA to go ahead would be a step backwards in everything that the LVRC claim to stand for.

According to the LVRC planning scheme the purpose of this Rural Residential Zone is to provide for residential uses and activities on large lots, including lots for which the local government has not provided infrastructure and services - residential uses of a very low density and a semi-rural character prevail in the zone.

The so-called ‘lifestyle lots’ proposed by the developer are inconsistent with the neighbouring properties (much smaller) and are inconsistent with the intent of both local and regional plans. If approved, Council would set a precedent for others to subdivide their lots into similar small lots, effectively REZONING the Rural Residential zoning.

How does one fit their house, shed, machines, aviary, kennel, pool, tanks, septic system and more onto such a small ‘lifestyle’ lot - which is what this Rural Residental zone is for? If people want smaller lots, these can be found at Brassall or Booval.

Furthermore, regarding the Core Koala Habitat the developer seeks to reduce, the purpose of the Rural Residential Zone is that environmental corridors, habitats and vegetation are protected, improved and rehabilitated through buffers that provide for fauna movement and minimise the impact of existing and future land uses. This proposal doesn’t do that - it does the opposite.

Regarding plans to introduce a child care centre, section 5.5.14 of the LVRV planning scheme lists development which is code assessable in the rural residential zone and a child care centre isn’t on the list - so this proposal is IMPACT ASSESSABLE.

I am writing to express my deep concern regarding the proposed subdivision development on the land near our community. This area is one of the last remaining habitats for koalas, kangaroos and other wildlife, and its development would have a devastating impact on these precious wildlife species.

As our family shares the fence line with the proposed development, we have had the privilege of witnessing the natural beauty of our local fauna. Each morning and evening, we observe a delightful mob of kangaroos grazing just beyond our fence. Their presence brings joy to our community and highlights the unique ecological value of this area. Just this morning, we were fortunate enough to see a koala wandering nearby and climbing a tree, a reminder of the rich biodiversity that we are at risk of losing. (video can be provided)

The potential loss of these habitats not only threatens the survival of these local koalas and kangaroos but also disrupts the delicate balance of our local ecosystem. Development in this area would result in increased traffic and habitat fragmentation, further endangering our wildlife.

We were excited to be one of the first to buy and build in this estate and our decision to move here from Brisbane was largely based on the lifestyle and habitat blocks that were carefully zoned to protect flora and fauna. We had to consider building envelopes and protecting existing trees on our block with the intention of protecting wildlife in the area. We were told that this neighbouring land would not be developed due to this very same reason.

I urge you to reconsider the approval of this subdivision development. Protecting our remaining natural habitats is essential for the well-being of both wildlife and our community. We owe it to future generations to preserve the beauty and biodiversity that surrounds us.

Thank you for your attention to this critical issue. I hope you will advocate for the preservation of this vital habitat.