planning report 45 Maple St -v1-2023

5.2 Discretionary Matters

5.2.1 Need

The proposal is considered an inconsistent use in the Community Facilities Zone. There is a far
reaching community benefit the development will provide in terms of housing for those with
disabilities.


The Noosa Council adopted a Housing Needs Assessment (HNA) of the Noosa Shire in December
2021 which identified among other demographic, a pressing need for social housing, affordable
housing, housing for the vulnerable and people living with disabilities. The HNA indicates that in
2016, 2,737 people in Noosa Shire in need of assistance with a profound or severe disability. Further
indicating that many people living with physical disabilities have limited range of housing options.


The proposal helps to satisfy the pressing need for accommodation for people living with disabilities
that the HNA identifies. The SDA provides for flexible households and certainty to Council that these
dwellings will be used for those in need into the future.


Importantly the HNA recommends a raft of changes to the planning scheme, one being, allowing
SDA compliant housing a consistent use in the Community facilities zone specifically identifying
Cooroy, as proposed by this application.


The HNA section 18.4 states:
18.4 Disability Housing
The planning scheme could specifically support specialist disability accommodation in multiple
housing scenarios. While a single shared house is reasonably well catered for, scenarios of dual
occupancies or multiple dwellings not so. The Community Facilities Zone should allow for these uses
where they specifically meet the robust, fully accessible or high physical support design criteria of
the SDA guidelines. It’s noted that there is no guarantee housing stays in this scheme long term.


The uses could be made consistent where providing Specialist Disability Accommodation under the
National Disability Insurance Scheme and performance criteria should specify the categories of SDA
design expected. This approach has the potential to make a difference in places such as Cooroy,
Tewantin and Pomona and possible on lands owned by churches or community organisations.
Ideally it would home people whose housing choices are very limited in the broader market.


6.0 Conclusion
This application seeks a Development Permit for Reconfiguring a lot (4 lots into 2 lots) and Material
Change of Use for Undefined Use (11 accessible units) situated at 45 & 47A and 9 Myall Street,
Cooroy.

The application is proposing Robust, Fully accessible and High Physical Support SDA in accordance
with NDIS housing design guidelines which will provide housing for those living with a disability
through the NDIS. This is an area of housing identified in Councils HNA which is in need in the form
of dual occupancy or multiple housing.

While the use is inconsistent in the Community Facilities zone in Cooroy the Planning Scheme
recognises that multiple dwellings can be suitably located in this zone given they are a consistent
use in the Community Facilities zone in another Local Plan Area of Noosa Shire. Furthermore, the
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