2015-08-18 Planning and Organisation Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                 18 AUGUST 2015


The establishment of retail or commercial office type business in the Noosaville industrial
area has the potential to reduce the availability of industrial land for industrial uses and
detract from the role of the business centres over time. It is important that sufficient land is
maintained for industrial businesses as uses of an industrial nature generally require larger
floor plates that are generally not able to be accommodated in the business centres. Many
industrial uses are also generally not compatible with other business uses due to their
potential to impact on the users of surrounding premises, and conflicts can arise when
industrial uses are located adjacent other business uses such as commercial business
offices. For example a medical or solicitor’s office requires generally a quiet business
address and their operations are likely to be impacted upon by a mechanic working on
vehicles next door.

Prior to undertaking the survey all owners and local real estate agents were sent a letter
advising of the proposed survey and its purpose. Property owners were reminded that they
are responsible for ensuring that any leases are for uses that are consistent with the
planning scheme. Local real estate agents were sent a similar letter reminding them of their
responsibilities in offering properties for sale or lease. The letters included information on
the purpose of the Noosaville Industrial area and the definition of an industrial business.
Owners and real estate agents were also advised that once the audit was completed any
new businesses established after that time found to be non-compliant, and therefore
unlawful, would face action by Council to remedy the breach of The Noosa Plan.

An officer then undertook a site inspection of each business in the Noosaville Industrial area
to determine whether the business operations constituted an industrial business or was
otherwise defined by The Noosa Plan. As provided to the owners and real estate agents,
similar information was provided to the operators, including the range of planning scheme
definitions for industrial, retail and commercial businesses and zoning details for the area.

From these inspections a register has been developed identifying each business operating in
the Noosaville industrial estate. The register records each business name, the type of
operation currently being conducted, contact details of the operators, and identifies whether
the business has an appropriate development approval or not, date inspected etc.

In the future, it is proposed on a 6 monthly basis to review the Noosaville industrial area and
identify any new non-compliant businesses and request either that they make application for
a development approval or relocate within a reasonable time frame.

The survey showed that of the 632 tenancies in the Noosaville industrial area, there are
currently 89 tenancies (14%) not complying, some of which have been operating in the area
for some time. There were 100 vacant tenancies at the time of the survey. Many of the non-
industrial uses are concentrated in areas along Gateway Drive, Eumundi Noosa Road and
Eenie Creek Road. Some of the non-industrial business uses established such as the
showroom type uses along Eumundi Noosa Road have established there due to the
requirements for larger floor plates, to attract passing trade and are both retail and
warehouse in nature and so are not necessarily suited to the existing business centres.
Other uses, such as along Gateway Drive, appear to be start up type businesses, many of
which may be more suited to this area than the current uses intended by the area’s industrial
zoning given the adjoining residential housing. There are also a limited number of small retail
type businesses which have established in the industrial area, in tenancies with very limited
floor plates. A number of these tenancies given their small floor plate are unlikely to be
suitable for many industrial type businesses.




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