Noosa VMU RFI Response Lodged 23.11.23 · MCU23/0078

(a) The cinema (theatre) and indoor sport and recreation components of the proposal are consistent
    with uses envisaged in the Village Mixed Use Precinct under the Noosa Plan. Notwithstanding, a
    needs analysis for these components is presented in the report at Section 6.2 (Cinema) and
    Section 6.3 (Indoor recreation/gym) which demonstrates that:

       •   There is demand for 12 cinema screens within the catchment by 2027, and only 5 present,
           so that there is a strong need argument for the proposed 6-screen facility to be
           constructed within the VMU precinct.

           The proposal anticipates a modern cinema with a mix of standard theatres and premium
           screens with higher levels of amenity (eg in-theatre food/drink service, better leg-room,
           etc). In addition to the cinema, the application also makes allowance for an associated
           entertainment facility that could comprise bowling arcade/escape room or similar venue
           which offers a real point of difference to other cinema offerings in the catchment.

       •   The proposed VMU incorporates an indoor recreation facility that is likely to
           accommodate a gym. Given the floorspace allowance, this would be expected to attract a
           large, branded or independent operator.

           Currently there are ten identified gyms operating within these catchment sectors. With a
           combined residential population of 36,290 persons within the Primary and Secondary
           East sectors, a provision rate of 3,500 persons per gym would generate demand for 11
           gyms, increasing to 12 by 2027 when the population reaches 37,815 persons. With
           potential for incoming demand from other catchment sectors given the location close to
           Noosa’s major employment cluster, this analysis demonstrates the community need for
           the gym proposed in the Village Mixed Use Precinct.

(b) The demographic analysis presented in Section 5.2 of the Economic Impact Assessment (and
    tabulated in Table 2 on p30) is benchmarked against the Sunshine Coast Significant Urban Area
    (SUA) and Queensland.

   The Sunshine Coast SUA has been chosen as a more appropriate benchmark as it incorporates the
   more settled parts of the Sunshine Coast SA4 and is therefore more relevant when comparing the
   characteristics of the catchment with the surrounding region.

(c) The centres network analysis incorporates known approved expansions in floorspace where
    relevant, drawing on searches of development applications using the Noosa Council eProperty
    Application search website. Minor additions to retail floorspace have not been incorporated as
    they are not relevant and would not alter the results of the analysis.

(d) Visitor expenditure data for the Sunshine Coast Tourism Region has been obtained as a
    customised request from Tourism Research Australia, and has been cited in the Economic Impact
    Assessment (refer pp34-35), with additional detail provided with regard to the components of
    expenditure used to underpin the economic analysis.

(e) Floorspace benchmarks are compared against appropriate averages. In the case of supermarket
    provision, comparisons are made against Sunshine Coast, Queensland and non-metropolitan
    Queensland. The analysis finds that existing supermarket floorspace is under-provided on each of
    these measures. For analytical purposes when examining future need, the Queensland
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