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

5.2.6    Aged or Disability Accommodation
Types of Product that Cannot be Provided
There is a great need for housing for older people in Noosa Shire. It has one of the oldest
populations in Australia, and the impact of a lack of suitable accommodation is compounded by
inflationary impacts on housing costs and a high level of pensioners. Older people must be
provided with appropriate housing that they don’t need to move from again whatever their
situation. It does not however appear possible to provide a variety of low-cost accommodation
on a single site, for example housing for older people, social housing and people with a disability.

Barriers to Provision
One of the main barriers to providing aged accommodation is the cost of the land and the cost
impost of planning restrictions, as well as infrastructure charges. It is hard to build something
affordable. A small unit may not suffice for people with a mobility disability who need space to
move around.

The ownership structure is a barrier to working in the disability space. The problem is if they are
strata titled and sold on they are lost to the open market.

Noosa Shire is also considered one of the more challenging councils to do business. A lack of
support by Council was seen to exist for a product needed in the area. The planning scheme was
seen to be a tool to prevent, not facilitate development. This means that aged care providers find
it easier elsewhere.

Planning Scheme Barriers
The main perceived barriers are:

       High infrastructure charges which render aged or community housing unaffordable;
       The length of time of approval processes which also add to the cost of the development;
       Seemingly arbitrary or excessive development requirements which are imposed.

Other Comments or Suggestions for Council from the Consultation
One aged care provider would like to see Council require a certain proportion of units to be built
to disability standards.

If Council could consider in its approval process for general housing development that a
proportion be made available to a Community Housing provider for affordable housing that
would give weight to the policy intent of Councils generally. Perhaps incentives or fast tracking
for such proposals may not compromise the planning scheme but rather bring the issue to the
forefront of developers as they plan.

Affordable housing may be possible in places like Pomona if it is allowed to grow; however it
would only be suitable with concurrent growth in services like transport and local employment.




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