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

SPECIAL MEETING                                                                 5 DECEMBER 2024


additional visitor taxes, increased compliance and reduction in short term accommodation.

The other half of the submissions objected or raised concerns with the proposed amendments. The
objectors generally wanted the ability to continue to operate short-term accommodation, no loss in
short-term accommodation, ability to grow the sector and the ability to use their property as they
wanted. Submissions also cited impacts on the economy, tourism and employment.

Response
Council has a long held policy position regarding making short-term accommodation an inconsistent
use in the Medium and High Density Residential zones and centre zones with the endorsement in
2022 of the recommendations in both the Short-term Accommodation Monitoring Report and Noosa
Housing Strategy. There are clear links between homes used for short-term accommodation
affecting housing supply and affordability. Short term accommodation is not suitable in a residential
or centres zones where future resident and key worker housing is to be focussed. Noosa Plan
2020 has a dedicated and extensive Tourist Accommodation zone specifically for visitor
accommodation and tourism uses. Property owners must comply with the requirement of Noosa Plan
2020 which has the statutory charge of regulating the use of land.

The Planning Act 2016 enshrines lawful existing use rights for short-term accommodation and
existing development approvals for short-term accommodation. This provides certainty for existing
short term accommodation operators, but also limits the ability to reduce short term
accommodation. It should be noted the majority of dwellings approved prior to 2006 have
interchangeable existing use rights for both short-term accommodation and permanent occupancy
in both the Medium and High Density Residential zones. So it is important going forward that future
development in the Medium and High Density Residential zones be limited to housing for permanent
residents to ensure long term housing supply and security for residents.

Council can continue to lobby state government around existing use rights for short-term
accommodation in residential zones. The Short Stay Letting or Home Hosted Accommodation Local
Law addresses policing and compliance. Any additional visitor taxes will be explored through the
Destination Management Plan.

Recommendation
It is recommended that no change be made to the proposed amendment as advertised in response
to submissions.

4. Tourist Accommodation zone review - specific sites proposed to be rezoned
The advertised amendments proposed to rezone certain properties from Tourist Accommodation
zone to either Medium or High Density Residential zone, Neighbourhood Centre of District Centre
zone. Certain properties are also proposed to be rezoned from Medium Density Residential zone to
Tourist Accommodation zone.

General Submissions
Some submissions raised general issues, not specific to particular sites, citing the proposed
rezonings would not deliver affordable housing given the high amenity locations. Some submissions
were concerned with loss of Tourist Accommodation zoned land, impacts on the operation of short-
term accommodation and impacts on the tourism economy and onsite letting business.

General response
There was an extensive shift in land formerly zoned residential that was included in the Tourist
Accommodation zone when Noosa Plan 2020 was introduced, reducing the quantum of land
available for permanent housing. Certain centres were also included in the Tourist Accommodation
zone limiting their commercial role to servicing primarily visitors.

The purpose of the Tourist Accommodation zone review was to redress the balance between the
extent of land zoned for visitor accommodation and tourism uses and land zoned to support