2021-12-13 General Committee Meeting Agenda

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING REPORT                                              13 DECEMBER 2021


8    HOUSING NEEDS ASSESSMENT


Author            Rowena Skinner, Principal Strategic Planner
                  Environment & Sustainable Development Department

Index             ECM/ Subject/ Noosa Plan Amendments 41.35 & New Noosa Plan 41.37

Attachments       1.   Housing Needs Assessment (141 page attachment provided separately to
                       this agenda)


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report brings forward the new Housing Needs Assessment (HNA) for Noosa Shire and
recommends Council endorse the document for the purpose of informing a Housing Strategy to guide
actions, regulation, and advocacy in the delivery of greater housing diversity and choice.
RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the Principal Strategic Planner to the General Committee Meeting
dated 13 December 2021 and
A.   Endorse the Housing Needs Assessment as attached to the report for the purpose of informing
     a Housing Strategy for Noosa Shire;
B.   Resolve to prepare amendments to the Noosa Plan to advance housing diversity and choice;
C.   Authorise the Chief Executive Officer to commission detailed site investigations and scoping
     of opportunities and feasibility for the development of affordable housing on Council owned
     properties at:
     1.    30 Toulambi Street, Noosa Heads; and
     2.    62 Lake Macdonald Drive, Cooroy.
D.   Refer the cost of undertaking these investigations estimated at $50,000 to budget review, and
E.   Request the Chief Executive Officer of Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local
     Government and Planning to provide notice about the process to follow for making
     amendments to the Noosa Plan 2020, under Section 18(3) of the Planning Act 2016.


REPORT
1.   Background and Context
In 2016-2017 a Housing Needs Assessment for Noosa Shire was prepared by Briggs & Mortar to
inform the preparation of a new planning scheme, the since adopted, Noosa Plan 2020.
In 2016 it was apparent that as a highly sought-after coastal location, market conditions had favoured
the development of particularly large, low density and bespoke dwellings in many parts of Noosa
Shire where the focus was on lifestyle and amenity. As a consequence, Noosa Shire saw various
housing issues emerge including:
•    Housing affordability, especially for low-income households and key workers;
•    A lack of accessible or adaptable housing for older people and people with special needs;
•    A mismatch of housing size and household size;
•    A shortage of affordable and appropriate aged accommodation;