2020-07-16 SM Agenda - Item 1 - Attachment 2 - Final Noosa Plan 2020 Parts 1-3

 Noosa Council has consistently taken a long term planning approach to sustainable planning. It is this long term approach that has
 ensured that the community's values and principles are not diminished by unintended development decisions.

 This approach is also the Shire's economic strength. It has created a consistent and well​­recognised 'Noosa brand' that provides a
 unique advantage and a 'natural' point of difference.

 In September 2007, Noosa Shire was declared a Biosphere Reserve under UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Program in recognition
 of the commitment by the community to environmental excellence and the pursuit of ecologically sustainable development. UNESCO
 specifically recognised in Noosa Shire a sophisticated level of human settlement. It highlighted a high level of inter​relationship between
 the natural environment and community wellbeing. Important to this was the strong sense of community involvement and coordination
 over a broad range of human settlement, economic and natural environment issues.

 Noosa Shire has been shaped not only by nature but also by the actions of passionate and creative residents, developers, community
 groups, and planning and design professionals. Noosa Shire is a community that values, preserves and builds upon its core values.
 Council continues to work with the community to maintain and enhance the lifestyle, wellbeing and prosperity of residents through careful
 planning and inclusive decision making. It actively takes stewardship of the Shire's natural resources in partnership with the community.

 In Noosa Shire, development is required to fit within the natural carrying capacity of the landscape, whether it be for residential, business,
 infrastructure, recreation, or rural pursuits. This carrying capacity philosophy is fundamental to the community’s longstanding values and
 principles. The planned population in the planning scheme is based on:
        the inherent capability of the landscape to support development
        the constraints of individual sites, whether it be natural hazards or environmental values
        available and planned infrastructure
        community preferences for individual localities.

 Around three quarters of Noosa's population resides in Tewantin, Noosaville, Noosa Heads and the coastal communities from
 Sunshine Beach to Peregian Beach. Consequently, urban residential, business, community, industrial and recreational activity is
 consolidated close to the coast, which is the area most popular with visitors. The balance of the population live in the hinterland, mostly
 within the existing towns and villages of Cooroy, Pomona, Cooran, Kin Kin, Boreen Point and their surrounding settlements, as well as
 Noosa North Shore.

 By 2041, Noosa's population is projected to reach around 63,000 persons and about three quarters of the additional residents will live
 between Tewantin and Peregian Beach. This amounts to a projected total increase of some 9,500 people from the 2016 census.
 Previous planning schemes have set development requirements to accommodate a growing population, which was built around the
 carrying capacity philosophy. Most of the remaining planned capacity is to be located within defined 'Urban Boundaries'. There is also
 limited remaining rural residential zoned land still to be developed. The established Urban Boundaries define the extent of land for urban
 development in Noosa Shire and hence land for new greenfield development on undeveloped land remains limited. Consequently, most
 development and redevelopment will occur within existing urban areas. This will encourage under​utilised land to be used more
 efficiently. It will lead to more efficient use of existing infrastructure and a more compact urban form to help reduce car usage.
 Environmental impacts will also be minimised.

 This planning scheme seeks to maintain Council's long standing commitment to a sustainable population and well managed growth
 through firm Urban Boundaries, development densities and building heights. Unrestrained and unplanned development is resisted in
 Noosa Shire. Any unanticipated development requires demonstration of a high level of community need.

 Editor's Note— Urban Boundaries include coastal communities from Peregian Beach to Tewantin and all other towns and villages and
 are identified on Strategic Framework Map 1 Settlement and the Zone Maps in Schedule 2.

 Ensuring the maintenance of Noosa's low­key leafy village feel is important to the Noosa community. Part of the 'Noosa Style' is its
 award­winning local architecture and designs that suit Noosa's subtropical climate and lifestyle. The 'look and feel' of public spaces and
 buildings enhance the liveability of local communities. Development is integrated with the landform. The green backdrop of the hills and
 mountains provide a natural backdrop to many urban areas in the hinterland and along the coast, as well as Noosa North Shore. These
 landscape features are important to local character and identity. Urban places are stylish but understated. City symbols such as high rise
 buildings, signage, advertising and traffic lights are minimised. Roads are designed to be pedestrian friendly. Drive­through fast food
 premises are not appropriate for main street style centres. Any form of development that has the potential to adversely impact on
 surrounding natural resources and environmental values will be located and designed to avoid environmental harm or nuisance.
 In the development context, Noosa Council's corporate plan vision – 'Different by Nature' – has been adopted because of this unique
 approach.




NOOSA PLAN 2020                                                                                                                     Page 3 of 23