2020-01-13 GC Agenda - Item 10 - Attachment 1 - Report on the Sustainable Tourism Stakeholder Reference Group

The Terms of Reference for the STSRG (Attachment 1) state:

The Sustainable Tourism Stakeholder Reference Group is intended to be a collaborative group formed to
facilitate a collective understanding of what "sustainable tourism" means for Noosa. The Reference Group
will explore issues and opportunities with regards to local tourism, its benefits and impacts. The Reference
Group will provide feedback to both Noosa Council and Tourism Noosa on a sustainable future for the local
tourism sector that is aligned to and respects the aspirations of the Noosa community. At the end of this
process, we should have a shared agreement about what a sustainable tourism sector means for Noosa.
This could lead to a “social contract” between the tourism sector, Noosa Council and the community.

From the outset, the concept was raised of the STSRG being the catalyst for some sort of social contract
between Council and the community that might outline an agreed vision for sustainable tourism in the
Noosa Shire into the future.
The STSRG has closely considered a wide range of issues in relation to tourism, its benefits and impacts. The
group has operated amicably and with considerable goodwill. Inevitably there have been some differences
of opinion, however there has also been unanimity on some key issues – namely: (i) that both resident
amenity and visitor experience are critical to the debate and (ii) that we need to start planning for the
future now. A phrase that has arisen in this discussion and appears to be generally accepted by the group
is: “What is good for the resident is also good for the tourist.”
Another overarching agreement is that Noosa Shire faces a potential looming issue in relation to the
expected population growth on our doorstep. The SEQ Regional Plan anticipates close to 200,000 residents
being added to the Sunshine Coast local government area, and an additional 2 million to SEQ generally by
2041. Such growth, particularly at the southern end of the Sunshine Coast, has the potential to put
increasing pressure on Noosa and its public infrastructure, including the road network, primarily through
increased numbers of day visitors wanting to drive into and out of Noosa in a single day. (More on this
later.)
What follows is a summary of key issues raised at the STSRG meetings and some responses from both
Noosa Council and Tourism Noosa. It must be remembered that any solutions or innovations aimed at
sustainable tourism and resident amenity will inevitably be complex and multi-faceted. In other words,
there is no silver bullet, much as we would like there to be.
Efforts in other jurisdictions around the world have demonstrated that Noosa is far from alone in seeking
answers to the question of sustainable tourism and its impacts. And, of course, solutions being employed in
some places may not be readily transferable to Noosa, particularly where they relate to locations that have
a single point of access or where ticket sales determine visitor numbers.
The STSRG has received numerous presentations and various documents in their pursuit of better
understanding of tourism in Noosa. Much of this information has cut through popular misunderstandings
about issues such as impact of events, feasibility of transport solutions etc.
At best, the STSRG has demonstrated a willingness by peak community groups with often disparate
agendas and very different vested interests to work together amicably for the benefit of all. This in itself is a
significant achievement and testimony to the nature of our wonderful shire.
The breadth of issues in the following report give some idea of the amount of work that the STSRG has
actually done. Although there is some frustration amongst the members that not enough appears to have
been achieved, in actual fact many of the issues raised at the STSRG have either been addressed or are
being acted upon. It is perhaps a failing of both Council and TN that neither have made it clear to the STSRG
that actions taken with a focus on tourism issues are as a result of matters raised at the STSRG. The STSRG
has had more influence on both organisations than perhaps the members recognise. By its very presence,
the STSRG maintains a high level of interest in tourism issues and the very future of our shire.




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