2022-02-14 General Committee Meeting Agenda

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                                 14 FEBRUARY 2022


most of that slope now within the first 6m of the land, then gently sloping to the northern boundary.
A good building design could have the driveway located to the west side of the lot leading to a
ground level with garaging and services, and bedroom and living spaces on the upper level, which
would likely be at street level.
An engineer would be required to design the driveway and footings to ensure site stability. This is
a normal process on sloping lots and does not create any significant hurdles for development.
8.    Zone Amendment
Should the Council resolve not to advance investigations for social or affordable housing at 30
Toulambi Street, its future for housing development of any form should likewise be discounted and
the Environmental Management and Conservation Zone applied to the site when the planning
scheme is next amended.
9.    Council responsibility in housing
It could be said that it is not local government responsibility to provide social or affordable housing
for its community, but a State responsibility. However, it is Officers’ opinion that such a view is not
helpful. Housing for the most vulnerable in our community will only occur with government
intervention at all levels. Council shares responsibility, as it is required to adequately plan for and
ensure its community is housed and services are provided to sustain a happy and healthy
community. Further, as per many local employers, Council is finding it difficult to attract and retain
key workers because of the lack of local rental housing.
In December 2021 Council received and endorsed a Housing Needs Assessment which reviewed
in detail the unmet housing needs in Noosa Shire and the various social and economic impacts
this was having on the community.
The private market has created such high Noosa Shire land values, that land for social or affordable
housing is out of financial reach of community housing providers and therefore many in our
community are suffering.
The Noosa Plan outlines where and how dwellings are constructed in the Shire. The Councils’
planning scheme is a policy document regulated by State planning that sets targets for local
government to meet for dwellings numbers. However, it is Council that must ensure that the types
of housing needed is provided for its particular community and in the most appropriate locations.
Council’s intervention by offering its land for housing is essential and is likely to be one of the most
effective ways for social or real affordable housing to be provided because that way the land value
is removed from the equation, as it is generally the land and location which attracts most of the
property value. When the upfront capital investment required for the land component is removed
for community housing providers, this then affords a better chance of securing the needed housing.
Council’s contribution is the land component which can result in revenue from a ground/lands lease
arrangement of up to 40 years. In this way, the property is retained as social housing/affordable
housing for the long term, unlike in the private market where affordability is lost as the property
sells overtime.
In terms of the private market, there is currently no palatable way to entice developers to secure
social housing for the long term. The private sector currently relies on government subsidised rent
schemes for private investors (e.g., NRAS), but when the subsidies disappear, so do the social or
affordable housing. Officers are currently exploring opportunities where social housing can be
secured in the long term privately through advocacy, brokering and agreements as well as working
with the State Government to introduce inclusionary zoning.
Using Council owned land and partnering by entering into long term leases for residential purposes
secures social housing outcomes. Council can partner with or become lessor to community
housing providers (CHP). The CHP have the resources and experience to apply for funding and to
design, construct, manage and maintain the asset.



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