2022-11-04 Special Meeting Agenda

SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA                                                        4 NOVEMBER 2022


D.   Support the campaign for the Mayor to write to all vacant and short term let property owners
     to consider putting their properties into the permanent rental market;
E.   With the assistance of the Housing Stakeholder Reference Group, commit to improving
     community understanding of local housing needs and housing programs.


REPORT
1.   Housing Strategy
The Amended Housing Strategy has a vision to create an inclusive Noosa community where
everybody has access to safe, secure housing they can afford. It commits Noosa Council to:
•    Facilitating different housing types and styles to ensure people’s housing needs are catered
     for, regardless of age, mobility, household structure or budget;
•    Prioritising affordable living for key workers in those industries which Noosa relies on as the
     economic engine room;
•    Facilitating housing outcomes specific to each local area considering the needs of that
     community even if this results in inequality of land use rights;
•    Integrated and mixed housing for co-locating aged persons with other household structures
     (i.e families);
•    Ongoing engagement with State and Federal governments in advancing social and affordable
     housing investment;
•    Encouraging greater public and private investment in more social and affordable housing in
     the Shire;
•    Partnering with registered Community Housing Providers and other not for profit organisations
     whose mission aligns with the vision of the Noosa Council Housing Strategy, with the aim of
     providing more social and affordable housing;
•    Open dialogue and engagement with private developers, builders, finance sectors and
     Community Housing Providers that have clear long term interests in more affordable housing
     for rent;
•    Exploring rates concessions for properties owned or leased on a long-term basis by registered
     community housing providers for social or affordable housing
•    Exploring concessions on development costs (such as application fees and infrastructure
     charges) on a pro-rata basis where a proportion of the development will be for long term social
     or affordable housing;
•    Identifying ‘shovel ready’ housing projects that are suitable for State and/or Federal funding;
•    Planning Scheme amendments and policy development that support real change and
     outcomes for genuine social, affordable and inclusive housing; and
•    Community engagements models and tools that keep the Noosa community involved and
     supportive of activity and actions arising from the Noosa Housing Strategy.
The Housing Strategy includes a range of objectives with various actions under each. With each
action Council’s role is identified noting that this role ranges from recognising and monitoring,
advocating and regulating though to partnering and even delivering.
2.   Summary of Consultation Activities
As indicated in the attached report by Articulous, consultation on the draft housing strategy began
on 11 July 2022 with the launch of the project through Council’s Your Say Noosa website. The draft
strategy was available through the site, as was a fact sheet and several frequently asked questions
with answers. The site included a survey but also provided the option to make a written submission
via a dedicated housing email address.



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