ENDORSEMENT OF NOOSA LOCAL DISASTER MANAGEMENT PLAN 2026 · ATTACHMENT 1 - 2026 Local Disaster Management Plan

highest rental percentages are Sunshine Beach (37.1%), Sunrise Beach (30.5%), Noosa Heads (29.3%) and
Tewantin (28.2%).



3.3.4 Socioeconomic Disadvantage
The Australian Bureau of Statistics Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA) 2016 by LGA includes the Index
of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage, (IRSD) which is an index that summarises the relative disadvantage
of people and households within an area. The IRSD considers a range of economic and social condition
variables to determine an area’s relative disadvantage score. Indicators which are considered include the
percentage of population who are on low income, unemployed, without internet, have no/low educational
attainment, undertake low skilled employment, have health conditions, no personal transport, poor English, or
are one parent families. A low score is indicative of a relatively greater general disadvantage in the population
when compared with other areas.
In 2016, the Noosa Council area received a relative disadvantage score of 1,014. This was the lowest level of
disadvantage in the Sunshine Coast region. When compared to all of Australia’s suburbs and localities, this
score placed Noosa Shire in the 53rd percentile, meaning that 53% of Australia’s communities are more
disadvantaged than the Noosa Shire, while 47% are considered to have a lower level of disadvantage than
Noosa. The percentage of persons in Noosa in the most disadvantaged quintile was 5.8% with 12.6% in the
least disadvantaged quintile.



3.3.5 Access to Motor Vehicles
Within Noosa 3.5% of people do not have access to a motor vehicle which is lower than the state average of
5.7%. The two communities with areas of very high percentages of dwellings without access to motor vehicles
are Noosaville and Tewantin (6%). Therefore, these areas may need extra assistance in evacuating.



3.3.6 Vulnerable Persons
The Noosa Council area includes people who may be highly vulnerable to the impacts of disasters. At the 2021
Census, 29.6% of the population identified as experiencing one or more long term health conditions.
As at December 2021, there were 1,598 recipients of the disability support pension in the Noosa Shire. The
Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services provides disability services, support and
facilities to people with a disability and their carers living in Noosa.
Wesley Care Tewantin is a specialist disability accommodation option that provides space for up to six people.
There are six aged care facilities located across the region:
   • Blue Care - Sunrise Beach, 4 Grasstree Court, Sunrise Beach
   • Carramar – 186 Cooroy Noosa Road, Tewantin
   • Kabara – 120 Topaz Street, Cooroy
   • Ozcare – 80 Cooyar Street, Noosa Heads
   • Estia – 119 Moorindil Street, Tewantin
   • Arcare – Goodchap Street / Val Crescent, Tewantin
In addition, there are six retirement villages:
    • Noosa Domain – 35 Walter Hay Drive, Noosaville
    • Hibiscus Noosa Outlook – 71 St Andrews Drive, Tewantin
    • Laguna Estate – 21 Lake Weyba Drive, Noosaville
    • Southern Cross Noosa Waters – 39 Lake Weyba Drive, Noosaville
    • Riverlands Retirement Village – 139 Moorindil Street, Tewantin
    • Palm Lake Resort - 19 Trading Post Road, Cooroy.




Noosa Council 2025 | Local Disaster Management Plan                               Page 32 of 73