2022-11-14 GC Agenda - Item 4 - Attachment 1 - Short Term Accommodation Monitoring Report 2022

Executive Summary

On 18 February 2020 the then Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure
and Planning advised Noosa Council they could adopt Noosa Plan 2020 (NP2020) subject to
a condition to monitor the provisions relating to short term accommodation, tourism and
housing supply for a 2 year period following its commencement. Council adopted NP2020 and
it commenced on July 31, 2020.
Council officers have now prepared a Short Term Accommodation Monitoring Report,
including recommendations to amend NP2020, which must be submitted to the Minister within
6 months of the 2 year monitoring period.
As a baseline measure, the Monitoring Report undertook an extensive review of short term
accommodation under the provisions of the former Noosa Plan 2006 (NP2006) and the
economic, tourism and housing conditions from 2006 – July 2020, prior to the commencement
of NP2020. Various background studies, issues papers, short term accommodation data, as
well as community and economic census data helped to inform the pre NP2020 baseline of
information.
In the 2 year period since the commencement of NP2020, the Monitoring Report has examined
the provisions relating to short term accommodation, tourism and housing supply across all
zones in NP2020. More recent housing and economic studies and strategies, census data,
community feedback and updated short term accommodation data helped to inform the
situation over the last 2 years.
Covid-19 impacts on the economy, employment, tourism, short term accommodation and
housing were also examined both prior to and over the 2 years since NP2020 commenced. A
social and economic impact assessment has also been undertaken by AEC.
The Monitoring report found that legacy provisions from past planning schemes and the
provisions within the former Noosa Plan 2006 generally allowed for a mix of permanent
residential dwellings and short term accommodation for visitors throughout much of Noosa
Shire. The use of dwellings could generally move from permanent occupancy for residents to
short term use for visitors without further approval, resulting in no long term housing security
for permanent residents.
With the emergence of online booking platforms, the number of dwellings being used for short
term accommodation, particularly the use of dwelling houses, increased and issues emerged
around the impacts on residential amenity, housing supply and affordability and the
competition between residents and visitors for a limited supply of existing and future dwelling
stock.
During the preparation of Noosa Plan 2020, the biggest issue for consideration was the
increased use of dwellings, particularly dwellings houses, for short term accommodation in
residential zones and the introduction and spatial allocation of the Tourist Accommodation
zone and the Medium and High Density Residential zones.
In response to rising concerns over the impacts of short term accommodation Council made
the decision to make short term accommodation an inconsistent use in the Low Density
Residential zone in Noosa Plan 2020. Council also introduced a short stay letting and home
hosted accommodation local law to deal with residential amenity, complaints and guest safety.
Other than the Low Density Residential zone, Noosa Plan 2020 currently allows for short term
accommodation of an entire dwelling throughout Noosa Shire, in residential zones, rural
residential and rural zones, major centres, local centres and parts of the district centre zone.
However, since the commencement of NP2020, there has been a world wide pandemic and
national housing crisis, with record low rental vacancy rates and significant price increases in
the rental and purchase markets. Small affordable dwellings for key workers, particularly those


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Noosa Council Monitoring Report 2022/23