2017-04-11 P&E Agenda Attachment 1 to Item 1 Housing Needs Assessment

They would like to see an educational/retail facility on the ground floor with accommodation
above in the commercial area of Noosa Junction.

The college would still use Homestay if this was provided – their experience elsewhere has been
that for every bed they add they attract a new market.

Barriers to Provision
The main barriers to provision of suitable accommodation have been:

       No conversation or attempt to understand the problems and develop planning solutions -
        just a flat ‘no’.
       Length of approval processes.

Planning Scheme Barriers
Two planning scheme barriers were identified:

       The way parking is calculated for student accommodation - none of their students drive
        however Council insists on requiring normal parking provisions;
       The need for increased height in Noosa Junction. This would also provide a night
        economy to bring it alive at all times. The current height limit is a barrier to
        redevelopment being viable.

Other Comments or Suggestions for Council from the Consultation
They originally envisaged the Noosa school to take up to 1000 students. However they have
walked away from this because it is simply ‘too hard’ to do business in Noosa Shire. It has been
easier to start again in another place than try to expand in Noosa, and this is what they have
done.

5.2.4    Real Estate Market
Types of Product that Cannot be Provided
A major shortage of accommodation for sale was identified by all agents at the lower end of the
scale. It was also identified that rental stock has been slowly decreasing as there is less investment
housing, and there is no such thing as rental affordability in Noosa.

Product identified as required included:

       Small units for key workers, with good access to facilities and/or transport, such as in
        Noosa Junction;
       Low set units, with two or three bedrooms and two cars;
       Accommodation on one level, e.g. villas, for older people;
       Townhouse development in small, pet friendly complexes with low maintenance, low body
        corporate fees and no holiday letting;
       Affordable duplexes either on transport, or where transport might be improved if the
        population increased;
       Peregian style homes for rent in the Noosa area (three to four bedrooms) on 415m², so
        that young families can take advantage of the schools, contribute to the economy and be
        part of the community in Noosa. These need to be $550 per week maximum, so it is
        important that cheaper land is found;



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