2022-11-04 Special Meeting Agenda

SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA                                                          4 NOVEMBER 2022


The Housing strategy calls for planning scheme amendments which will allow further small dwellings
and housing choice within larger centres and reinforces the intent to investigate the potential joint
venture developments at Council owned carparks in Noosa Junction and Tewantin. The purchase
by the State of central land in Tewantin presents a very significant opportunity.
13.   Secondary dwellings
Until now the Residential Tenancies Authority has advised you may not rent out a granny flat if it has
not been approved by the local council, and Council is not able to approve something in conflict with
the Planning Regulation 2017. The State had reinforced the view that secondary dwellings could not
be leased separately with the tenants unrelated and making separate arrangements for food and
other essentials for living.
The State has recently made planning changes that allow the secondary dwellings to be rented to
persons outside of the household. The Planning Regulation 2017 was amended on 26 September
2022 through the Planning (Secondary Dwellings) Amendment Regulation 2022. As of this date there
is no requirement the secondary dwelling be occupied by individuals who are related to, or
associated with, the household of the other dwelling.
This move by the State will legitimise what currently occurs informally or under the radar and should
allow the full benefits and protections of the Residential Tenancies and Rooming Accommodation
Act 2008 to apply, giving both the landlord and tenant more security.
The Housing Strategy seeks to encourage the use of secondary dwellings as a means of providing
permanent housing to tenants and family members. Staff have revised factsheets and intend to work
with the State in providing clear information to homeowners and property managers. It is also
important that Council undertake compliance action on secondary dwellings being unlawfully used
for short-term accommodation.
14.   Multiple dwellings within low density housing areas
This concept has similarities to rooming accommodation however because each micro-apartment
would be self-contained it differs and is considered multiple dwellings. There would need to be
considerations around the ability to reconfigure and separately title and service units if that was
considered appropriate. Lot size, car parking, infrastructure charges and tenure are all
considerations.
This is not an immediate action of the Housing Strategy but is an option worthy of further
consideration in the future after monitoring what impact secondary dwellings and rooming
accommodation makes over the next year.
15.   Sustainable Tourism
As indicated above there were many submissions that covered the tourism sector and the tension
between housing residents and accommodating tourists within the same stock of residential
accommodation. The Housing Needs Assessment already covered the concerns of permanent
residents within resorts and tourists within traditionally residential neighbourhoods. This blending
has only increased since 2017 when the Noosa Plan 2020 was being drafted.
It is acknowledged that Council is undertaking a Destination Management Plan and that tourism and
events more broadly will be a consideration in this plan. However, numerous submissions raised
concern about an excessive number of events and over marketing of Noosa as a tourist destination,
suggesting it had become too hard for local residents to get around and enjoy the region on any
weekend, no longer just at peak periods. Further they suggested that the very attraction of Noosa,
being its expanses of natural bushland, clean uncrowded beaches/waterways and outdoor
recreational spaces are at risk.
There was considerable concern about the quantum of short-term accommodation within the Low
Density Residential zone and other residential zones, and the impact this has on the availability (and
cost) of housing for permanent tenants.
Noosa Council has already taken significant steps in this area by:-

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