NOOSA PLAN 2020 PROPOSED AMENDMENT NO. 2 - POST PUBLIC NOTIFICATION FOR FINAL STATE GOVERNMENT MINISTERIAL APPROVAL · Report

SPECIAL MEETING                                                                 5 DECEMBER 2024


2 Halse Lane, Noosa Heads- Halse Lodge
The advertised amendments proposed to:
realign the Tourist Accommodation zone and the Environmental Management and Conservation
zone and Biodiversity Overlay and introduce a Riparian overlay to reflect the vegetation and
waterway onsite; and
provide clarity that the short-term accommodation use of the site is for low cost visitor
accommodation and rooming accommodation for key workers.

Submissions
A request was made to ground truth the proposed alignment of the Tourist Accommodation zone
and the Environmental Conservation Management zone and Biodiversity Overlay. The submission
opposed restricting short-term accommodation uses to backpackers and wanted greater clarity
around the term "low cost accommodation" and greater flexibility of use. Whilst supporting the
additional use of rooming accommodation the submitter requested both rooming accommodation
and backpackers to be code assessment.

Response
An onsite assessment was undertaken confirming the alignment of the proposed Tourist
Accommodation and Environmental Management and Conservation zone and Biodiversity Overlay
were correct. Clarification of what constitutes "low cost visitor accommodation" is warranted, with
short-term accommodation including both backpackers and motel style which by nature are both low
cost accommodation. Backpackers accommodation and rooming accommodation are suitable as
code assessment, but only within the existing buildings given the site's heritage and environmental
constraints.

Recommendations
It is recommended the following changes be made to the proposed amendments as advertised in
response to this submission:
   ▪   amend to clarify "low cost accommodation" as being short-term accommodation that includes
       backpackers accommodation and motel; and
   ▪   amend to make rooming accommodation and backpackers accommodation code
       assessment within an existing building.

48 Noosa Drive, Noosa Heads - Nomads
The advertised amendments proposed to rezone the site from Tourist Accommodation zone to High
Density Residential zone.

Submissions raised concerns with the proposed zone change from Tourist Accommodation zone to
High Density Residential zone. Issues included the potential loss of the backpackers and low cost
accommodation, noting the site is well located for tourists and has been used for tourism a long term.
Submitters also identified the potential impacts on the tourism economy and stated that small
dwellings and key worker accommodation negatively impacted tourism.

There was a supporting submission and a submission concerned about the 3 storey height limit.

Response
48 Noosa Dr Noosa Heads is a significant key site within close proximity of services, transport and
recreation, perfectly located to deliver considerable resident housing supply and worker
accommodation. The site's current use for low-cost tourist accommodation is also important. In this
context, a reasonable outcome for the site (which includes 12 separate lots) is to have a mix of uses
for both predominantly permanent residents and key workers, as well as low-cost tourist
accommodation in the form of backpackers and motels over no more than 40% of the site. The
additional tourist accommodation uses will increase flexibility for the site, and will require a
masterplan to ensure the mix of uses can be accommodated.