2022-11-04 Special Meeting Agenda

SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA                                                           4 NOVEMBER 2022


REPORTS


1       NOOSA HOUSING STRATEGY – FINALISATION AFTER COMMUNITY CONSULTATION

Author            Rowena Skinner, Principal Strategic Planner
                  Environment and Sustainable Development Department

Index             ECM /Subject: 41.46 Housing Strategy

Attachments       1.   Amended Housing Strategy
                       (26 page attachment provided separately to this agenda)
                  2.   Consultation Report by Articulous
                       (69 page attachment provided separately to this agenda)
                  3.   Housing Stakeholder Reference Group Participants


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report seeks Council endorsement of the Housing Strategy which has been amended since
community consultation. The Housing Strategy includes objectives that support the vision of an
inclusive Noosa community where everybody has access to safe, secure housing they can afford.
The report details community consultation on the Draft Housing Strategy which took place in
July/August this year. It is accompanied by a summary report prepared by engagement consultants
Articulous. The report finds there was a high level of awareness and community understanding
around the extent of the housing crisis and the need for Council to act in this space.
Most of the community members who engaged in the consultation process were supportive of
initiatives that would broaden housing choice and offer safe, secure, affordable housing for a wide
cross section of residents, especially workers and vulnerable people.
There were concerns that the provision of additional housing should not be at the expense of other
values such as other protection of open space and conservation land, low scale / low rise-built form
character, nor should it lead to congestion and overpopulation.
There was strong community sentiment that the existing housing stock should be used to house
residents rather than be used to accommodate visitors or be locked up for the occasional use by
absent owners as holiday homes.
There was a minority sentiment that Council, and by default ratepayers, should not take on the
burden of responsibility owned by higher levels of government in delivering housing solutions.
This report notes that other levels of government are pursuing their own strategies and actions in
the provision of housing, however, reinforces earlier recommendations that Council still has a role to
play in being part of the solution.
RECOMMENDATION
That Council note the report by the Principal Strategic Planner to the Special Meeting dated 4
November 2022 and:
A.   Adopt the Housing Strategy as provided at Attachment 1;
B.   Note the community feedback on the draft Housing Strategy discussed in this report and in
     Attachment 2;
C.   Delegate the CEO to finalise an implementation plan with input from the Housing Stakeholder
     Reference Group;



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