ADOPTION OF DESTINATION MANAGEMENT PLAN · Report

GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING                                                       15 DECEMBER 2025


thousands of local jobs, sustains small and medium enterprises, drives investment in infrastructure
and services and enriches the community through vibrant experiences, events and cultural offerings.
Tourism has been a big part of shaping Noosa’s identity, attracting visitors who appreciate its natural
beauty, lifestyle and cultural heritage.

Despite this visitation is bringing increasing challenges, particularly issues associated with day
visitation, short-stay rental accommodation and concentrated visitor activity during peak periods is
placing increased pressure on local roads, public spaces, beaches, and environmental assets.
These pressures, if unmanaged, risk undermining the very qualities that make Noosa special – its
natural environment, community lifestyle and sense of place.

The Destination Management Plan (DMP) provides a strategic, evidence-based approach to
manage these pressures. It enables Council, residents and tourism industry to work collaboratively
to balance tourism with sustainability and liveability.

The DMP was informed by extensive community consultation, which revealed strong support for a
plan that:
•    Puts community at the heart of the plan, ensuring everyone respects and upholds Noosa’s values
     and cares for Noosa.
•    Protects Noosa’s unique character – ensuring that tourism does not compromise the lifestyle,
     environment, or identity of the Shire.
•    Embraces regenerative tourism – leaving the region in better condition than it was found,
     prioritising environmental stewardship, cultural preservation, and sustainable business practices.
•    Balances economic, social, and environmental outcomes – recognising that a thriving visitor
     economy must coexist with healthy communities and ecosystems.
Through the DMP, Noosa gains a shared roadmap for tourism and destination management. It
ensures decisions are informed by data, responsive to community expectations and aligned with
long-term sustainability goals. This approach positions Noosa as a leader in responsible and
regenerative destination management, providing a clear plan for residents, businesses and visitors.

3.   WHY NOW

The Noosa community, environment, and infrastructure are under increasing pressure. Significant
regional population growth, rising tourism numbers, evolving travel behaviours, and the spotlight on
the region ahead of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games mean we must act now. A Destination
Management Plan will provide a clear, coordinated framework to manage these challenges, help
preserve and enhance Noosa’s unique natural assets, and seek to maintain and enhance community
liveability.

Of particular concern to our community is the issue of day visitation, which currently accounts for
nearly 50% of all visitors to Noosa but contributes less than 10% of total visitor expenditure. Day
visitation places substantial pressure on public infrastructure, roads, parking, and key natural and
cultural sites. Without proactive management, issues such as day visitation is expected to increase,
potentially reducing liveability for residents and straining environmental and community assets.

Our community have repeatedly told us short-stay accommodation in residential areas also presents
challenges, concentrated short-term rentals in residential zones disrupts communities, reduce long-
term housing supply and availability and contributes to traffic congestion and other amenity impacts.

4.   PRINCIPLES AND STRATEGIC ACTIONS

The DMP is underpinned by four core principles, each guiding strategic goals and priority actions, a
summary is provided here: