MCU23/0101 Application For Short-term Accommodation At 561 Gympie Kin Kin Road, Kin Kin · Attachment 2 – (MCU23/0101) – Planning Officer’S Report

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING REPORT                                         11 JUNE 2024

3.3.1   Strategic Framework
The Strategic Framework recognises that tourism is a key sector of the Noosa economy and will
continue to be so into the future, with key visitor areas identified including Hastings Street, Gympie
Terrace, Noosa River, Tewantin Marina, Noosa National Park, Sunshine Beach, Peregian Beach,
Noosa North Shore and the hinterland.
However, the Strategic Framework also identifies that visitor numbers and associated pressures
are increasing in and around Noosa’s natural attractions and impacting residential amenity and the
lifestyle of locals, the local environment, and accommodation for residents and guests.
Consequently, the Noosa Plan identifies and protects visitor accommodation areas, located within
the Tourist Accommodation Zone, at Noosa Heads, Noosaville and Noosa North Shore for visitors
to the exclusion of permanent occupants. It also conversely protects neighbourhoods of permanent
residents from influxes of short-term visitors recognising visitors interests and priorities are not
always compatible with residential amenity. These strategies are also reflected in the planning
scheme’s assessment tables and codes by identifying short-term accommodation as an
inconsistent use in the Low Density Residential zone and requiring that medium and high density
residential zoned areas remain home to predominantly permanent residents.
Within the hinterland, the Strategic Intent states that the focus is directed towards high quality
nature-based and rural tourism experiences and events to diversify and balance the visitor
experience across Noosa Shire and promote the hinterland. The Tourism Strategy Noosa 2017-
2022 prepared by Tourism Noosa supports this focus by encouraging and promoting hinterland,
nature-based experiences to help disperse visitors throughout the region with a focus on ‘quality’
experiences that attract high spending interstate and international visitors to the region.
Accordingly, in the hinterland for rural zoned land, nature-based tourism is identified as accepted
development subject to requirements or code assessable, with short-term accommodation as code
assessable or consistent impact assessable development. Visitor accommodation in the hinterland
is supported by the planning scheme but is required to be low density and small scale and not
impact on rural activities, or the amenity, character or environmental values of the area.
The proposed short-term accommodation is consistent with the Strategic Intent and Outcomes of
the Noosa Plan 2020 to support rural tourism in the hinterland area.
3.3.3   Overlay Codes
Agricultural Land Overlay
The subject site is mapped as containing areas of agricultural land conservation area (ALCA),
including the portion of the lot containing the existing dwelling. The proposal does not include any
additional buildings or structures to be located within the mapped ALCA and as such the
development will not result in the loss or diminished productive capacity of ALCA.
Biodiversity, Waterways and Wetlands Overlay
The western portion of the site is mapped as containing areas of biodiversity significance and
riparian buffer area. The use will primarily be contained within the existing dwelling and will utilise
the existing access, carparking and onsite amenities, all of which are within a fenced off area and
are located entirely outside of the mapped areas of biodiversity significance and riparian buffer
area.
Bushfire Hazard Overlay
The site contains a portions of mapped bushfire hazard area (potential impact buffer) in the western
portion of the lot, including the location of the dwelling. The use is proposed to be contained entirely
within the existing dwelling, noting that Noosa Plan 2020 would not trigger assessment for bushfire
hazard where short-term accommodation is proposed within an existing dwelling house if the