2022-11-04 Special Meeting Agenda

SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA                                                           4 NOVEMBER 2022


-     290 respondents strongly agreed that large businesses and government departments that are
      developing or redeveloping their own land should include a portion of the site to be employee
      housing for key workers; 77 definitely disagreed.
-     283 respondents strongly agreed in the effectiveness of Council subsidising the delivery of
      more affordable housing through reduction or waiving of fees, charges or rates, however 98
      definitely disagreed with this.
-     259 respondents strongly agreed amending the planning scheme to encourage and incentivise
      all new housing developments to include a portion of social or affordable housing would be
      effective while 123 respondents strongly disagreed with this.
-     A majority of respondents strongly agreed (232) or somewhat agreed (155) that delivery of
      housing be prioritised over the delivery of car parking although there were 161 respondents
      that disagreed with this to a moderate or strong extend.
-     The need for social and affordable housing to meet current planning scheme requirements and
      to blend in with existing street character was barely recognised by young people but became
      the most important considerations for older respondents.
84.6% of survey respondents showed support for affordable and social housing in the Noosa Shire
with only 15.4% showing no support. 72.5% of respondents indicated support for Council
involvement in providing social and affordable housing.
Within written submissions there was criticism of the survey, stating it was biased and designed to
elicit a positive response. Notwithstanding this sentiment, over 67% of written submissions still
supported affordable and social housing and nearly 64% supported Council having a role in resolving
the housing challenge for Noosa.
7.    Written submissions
A total of 82 written submissions were received, although a couple of these came in after the close
of consultation so may not have been reflected in the report by Articulous, however have been
reviewed and considered as part of Council’s consideration. For the most part submissions were
from local individuals although there were a few from land developers, consultants, not-for-profit
organisations and community groups. Submissions could broadly be split into those generally in
support of the draft Housing Strategy (typically with suggestions for additions or alterations) and
ones generally opposed to it for one or more reasons. Both sides are summarised in the following
sections.
7.1    Opposition & Concerns

7.1.1 Short-term accommodation
The most frequently repeated opinion in the written submissions (24) was that there was not a need
for more housing development but that any shortage of permanent housing (if indeed there was one)
was due to the high number of vacant properties and properties only available for short-term letting.
There was a shared view that Council was responsible for this situation and must reverse/stop/reign
in this phenomenon. See section 15 below for further detail.

7.1.2 Overpopulation
Some 20 written submissions expressed concern that the strategy opens the door for additional
growth beyond the planning scheme and beyond the population cap. Some suggested Noosa was
already at capacity with regular traffic congestion, and that more housing will just make things worse,
ruining the very nature of Noosa. See section 10 below for further detail.

7.1.3 Loss of Green space
Many submissions rejected any proposal to develop housing on Council owned open space. This
was primarily but not exclusively directed at the Leslie Drive site. Some submissions extended the
concern to any loss of vegetated land or wildlife habitat and stated any loss of green space/
conservation land detracts from the unique environmental appeal of Noosa. They sought to clarify

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