2019-10-08 Planning & Environment Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                      8 OCTOBER 2019


Consultation activity              Number

Voice messages on call waiting     Ongoing
Direct email notification          46 Real estate agents
                                   49 development industry
                                   27 business associations & groups
                                   19 community groups
Direct letter notification         48 Existing signage approval holders
Engagement with business           3 meetings: Initial briefing of proposed Local Law then a follow up
associations                       joint meeting to discuss issues
Stakeholder focus group meetings   10 business representatives


3.     Engagement and submissions
During the public consultation period a total of 24 phone / counter / email enquiries were
received.
302 written submissions were received (299 during the consultation period) including:
     170 pro-forma submissions;
     1 petition with 98 signatures;
     169 submissions from individual businesses;
     19 submissions from real estate agents;
     3 submissions from business associations;
     23 submissions in support of the draft local law;
     71 submissions in partial support and partial objection to the draft local law; and
     204 submissions in objection to the draft local law;
     4 neutral submissions.
4.     Key issues raised in submissions
A number of issues were raised both in support and objection to the draft local law which have
been summarised into 10 key issues.
Overwhelmingly, submissions in objection to the draft local law related to the proposed
introduction of an approvals process and annual licence renewal fees as well as the proposed
prohibition of A-frames, tear drop flags and real estate directional signs.
Key issues and comments in support and objection are summarised with a response and
recommendation below.
i.     Need for regulation
A number of submissions questioned the need for new regulation stating current requirements
are adequate, there is no need to change requirements and there is no issue regarding Noosa’s
look and feel. There was some objection to having a local law instead of managing signage
through the planning scheme, seeking a more flexible approach.
Submissions in support for the draft local law indicated there was a need for strong policy to
protect Noosa’s unique environment and maintain its look and feel, and past policy had made
Noosa different.
Response
The erection of an advertising device is regarded as development under the Planning Act 2016
and must be regulated. Because the new planning scheme will no longer regulate signage a local
law must be prepared to ensure a regulatory framework is in place when the new planning
scheme commences.

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