Attachment 5 - Economic Needs Analysis

                                                        Rufous St Master Plan Commercial Development




12.2 Digital Hub Co-Working Space
Within the Noosa Shire area the following businesses offer similar type services that is high speed
Wi-Fi, 24/7 access, meeting rooms, printing services, lockers etc.

Noosa Boardroom. A well-established business offering co working space in an open plan area,
serviced offices, meeting rooms including a well appointed boardroom. Located at “Noosa Civic” it is
in the business section of a major shopping centre. It seeks to meet the needs of work at home
professionals, freelancers, start-up enterprises, independent contractors and consultants. The Noosa
Boardroom is located approximately 16km or a 15 minute drive from Peregian Beach.

Junction 2 Located in Noosa Junction business precinct purpose built co working space with meeting
rooms and some office services. Casual Desk hire can be arranged. Broadband speed is currently
limited at 20mb/20mb until the NBN upgrade is completed in 2017. Would suit Noosa Heads
resident population catchment local professionals plus international and national tourists. The
Junction 2 is located approximately 11km or a 13 minute drive from Peregian Beach.

Duke Douglas Located in the Sunshine Beach business strip is an architecturally designed small
studio space that houses a group of permanent part time and casual creatives working both
independently and collaboratively. The space is understood to be fully utilised at present. Duke
Douglas is located approximately 9km or a 10 minute drive from Peregian Beach.

At Maroochydore and Mooloolaba there are a number of premises of some size that are currently
offering these services, such as Sparks Bureau, Share Space and The Boarding Office. These
businesses are located approximately 24 – 30km’s away or a 25-30 minute drive from Peregian
Beach.

There have been a number of premises opened in 2015 illustrating the emerging demand generally
having a geographical catchment but also providing a service to the travelling workforce.

Floor space for IT enterprises may have some impact on existing tenancy arrangements within the
Village however an examination of the expansion of the Peregian commercial sector would indicate
a take up of developed space commensurate with population growth and it is likely that any
resultant vacancies would be backfilled.


13      IMPACT OF NOT UNDERTAKING DEVELOPMENT
Local IT enterprises that wish to expand may find it difficult to locate office space of sufficient size in
the presently constructed premises to suit their needs. Presently tenanted small office spaces may
be used alternately for retail which generally gives a better return to owners. These market driven
factors may ultimately force IT or similar creative type enterprises to relocate.


14      ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTION OF PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT
It is also suggested that success of the venture would provide employment not reliant on tourism
the main driver of the local economy and enhance other local businesses such as the IGA shop
Hardware store, hotel etc.