2019-12-11 SM Agenda - Item 1 - Attachment 1 DRAFT 20191202-Noosa Plan Consultation Report

8. Short-term Accommodation
The land use definition for short–term accommodation covers accommodation of less than 3 consecutive months provided for tourists or travellers, which is not otherwise defined as a hotel, nature-based tourism, resort
complex, tourist park or home based business. The definition of a dwelling or dwelling house by comparison states it is the residence of a single household with the intent of living together on a long-term basis. The Planning
Act 2016 and Regulations now define short stay accommodation as a specific use. For this reason, the New Noosa Plan needs to address the short–term or holiday letting of a house or unit not otherwise in a resort complex.
This matter received a considerable amount of feedback during initial consultation.
It is worth noting Council commissioned an Issues Paper on Short-term Accommodation online platforms and issues associated with this phenomenon in early 2019. This issues paper was reported to Council in February
2019, a separate piece of work to the New Noosa Plan. The Issues Paper sought to identify a range of issues, opportunities and challenges resulting from the huge rise and prevalence of short-term letting platforms and
suggested a range of potential considerations and actions that Council may wish to consider in response. One of these potential responses was the use of the Planning system to regulate the land use.
The timing of the release of this paper was cause for some confusion about the topic, however the draft New Noosa Plan sought to address the land use issues only. Ultimately it served to raise the profile of the issue and
provided some background to the short-term rental sector and the challenges and opportunities it presents for coastal and tourist regions. During the first round of consultation Council received 376 submissions relating to
short term accommodation.
Because of the significant number of submissions made on this issue, the key issues raised in submission have been grouped and summarised.

8.1     Submissions from Initial Consultation (February to May 2019)
8.1.1 Support for addressing short term accommodation
 Submitter   Submission and Grounds of Submission                                                                            Planners’ response                                                                           Recommendation
 20867133    •   Agree with the proposals for the use of residential accommodation for Short-stay letting.                   Comments in support for the new Noosa Plan dealing with short term accommodation is noted.   That a further review of the approach taken in the new Noosa Plan be undertaken in the
                                                                                                                                                                                                                          context of other submissions, including those objecting to the approach be undertaken.
 20867111    •   Agree with the short-stay maps.
             •   Glad Council is formulating a plan.                                                                                                                                                                      Refer to recommendation in section 8.1.3.
 20868609
             •   Congratulates Council on tackling the difficult problem of Airbnb type of accommodation
 20868599
             •   Expresses support for Council’s attempt to control the proliferation of visitor accommodation
 20867167        specifically Airbnb into traditional permanent residential. Uncontrolled Short-term accommodation is
 20866624        having a detrimental impact on our community in terms of noise, excessive vehicles, increased rubbish
                 and unruly behaviour and loss of neighbourhood cohesion. It is also artificially inflating rent which
 20864935        reduces areas for permanent residents to live making Noosa an un-affordable place to live for
                 residents, especially younger people.
 20867004
             •   Support the draft Noosa Plan regarding Short-term Accommodation. Mixing short-term accommodation
 20867187        with permanent residents does not work. A code of conduct would be impossible to inforce. Would hate
 20868229        to be forced out of my permanent home because of an investor with short-term accommodation located
                 next to me.
 20867106
             •   Commend the Council for its efforts in trying to regulate Short-term rentals (STR) by absentee landlords,
                 so as to protect the amenity of neighbours.
             •   Supports the approach to Short-term accommodation provisions and thinks it is an appropriate response
                 to recent changes in the use of domestic housing.
             •   Submitter pleased Council is being proactive with Airbnb and commends the new short stay mapping on
                 the plan. Sympathises with Hotel and Holiday accommodation suppliers in existing tourist locations who
                 have put in the hard yards, investing locally, advertising, creating viable businesses that create
                 employment and more and how they now have to compete with a huge number of Airbnb properties.
             •   Support the Noosa plan as my house in Noosa Heads is outside the short-stay maps and as rostered
                 health workers feel that a whole house Short-term let must consider the aspect of the house and its
                 consequential effect on neighbouring properties. Any permit issues must be subject to good behaviour
                 with a non-compliance process. Short-term accommodation is run like a business and should be subject
                 to requirements like any business.
             •   Congratulate Noosa Council for a comprehensive plan, commend the proposed zonings for Little Cove
                 and Noosaville River Precincts and support the draft provisions to control short-term letting
             •   Pleased that properties such as duplexes in Sunshine Beach will continue to provide Short-term holiday
                 accommodation for tourists under the new Noosa plan. Such accommodation adds to the vibrant
                 community and holiday atmosphere that Sunshine Beach is known for.




Consultation Report - Consideration of Submissions on the New Noosa Plan                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  Page 17