NOOSA PLAN 2020 PROPOSED AMENDMENT NO. 2 - POST PUBLIC NOTIFICATION FOR FINAL STATE GOVERNMENT MINISTERIAL APPROVAL · Attachment 1 Table of submissions

 Your Say    ECM         Submitter comments                                                                                             Response   Recommendation
 Reference   reference
                         space by way of an additional height/ floor. Therefore, it is uneconomical to introduce a District Centre
                         zone that opens the Islander scheme to small dwellings for permanent residents and best to leave the
                         existing zoning to give owners this choice based on their circumstances and the limitations of the
                         existing building.
                         The Islander Noosa was purpose built in 1989 as a tourism resort with facilities that ideally appeal to
                         short stay letting over permanent housing (for example: one carpark per residence/lot, no bike areas,
                         no storage areas or gardens on title, BBQ and entertainment areas are on common property, no
                         smoking legislation, pets under approval and constraints and no means to utilize common property
                         when doing any renovation). The resort has leisure facilities that are expensive to maintain making
                         levies expensive, which impacts rents for permanent letting being higher for an equivalent unit in a
                         residential area. The CMS / Bylaws require behaviours from tenants that limit their ‘freedom’ in terms
                         of noise, visitors, access that would not be as stringent if they were living in a residential area. Also,
                         rents for permanent letting are higher than an equivalent stand-alone unit in a residential area given the
                         cost to run the Scheme and its facilities.
                         Given the history of the scheme, its location along the Noosa River foreshore, the number of leisure
                         facilities and a short stay letting yearly occupancy average of 85%, it is reasonable to say that The
                         Islander Noosa Resort is iconic in its appeal as a holiday resort;. The Scheme is registered in the
                         Accommodation module of the BCCM and there is a 24-hour 7 day a week Resort Manager living on
                         site. There are limitations (built into the Scheme and legislated that cannot be changed) that affect the
                         desirability, amenity and affordability of permanent living within the scheme. It is wishful thinking that a
                         rezoning could negate these limitations, but it could place pressure on the value of an Owner’s
                         investment.
                         We suggest it is uneconomical to introduce a District Centre zone that opens the Scheme to small
                         dwellings for permanent residents. However, we feel these redevelopments or uses are best left with
                         the current zoning to give owners this choice. Over the years, many owners have chosen permanent
                         letting (cheaper to manage) over short stay and we expect this will continue.
                         Given the small footprint of the commercial lot it is unlikely that localized business options would be
                         viable. Also, the location across from the Noosa River and shopping centres in a high traffic tourism
                         area would affect affordability and barriers to entry for a broader business to set up and trade along
                         Gympie Terrace.
                         There is an amendment for 169-173 Gympie Terrace and 10-12 Robert Street that covers resorts such
                         as Coral Beach, Sandy Beach, Como etc to rezone these as Tourist Accommodation. Refer factsheet
                         5 “ To reinforce certain onsite managed and purpose-built resort sites for visitor accommodation, a
                         number of sites in Noosaville and Peregian Beach are proposed to be included in the Tourist
                         Accommodation zone. As there is no further development potential, the inclusion of these sites in the
                         Tourist Accommodation zone will not impact the future provision of permanent residential dwellings.”
                         While we see credit for this amendment (and we advocated this back in 2019), it seems incongruent to
                         then rezone The Islander Noosa when the Scheme has onsite managed and was a purpose-built resort
                         sites for visitor accommodation.
                         We would also contest that the commercial lots at The Islander Noosa have limited re-development
                         potential unless the Scheme (all 87 Lots) is redeveloped.
                         Suggest the whole of The Islander Noosa CTS32252 retain the current zoning as ‘Tourist
                         Accommodation’ and the proposed zoning to ‘District Centre’ be overlaid on the commercial Lots so that
                         the amendment makes both zones consistent use.
                         The Subject Property is one of only a handful of properties that has a commercial tenancy fronting
                         Gympie Terrace (in which Cocos – the lifestyle and gift shop – is the current tenant) and short term
                         residential accommodation upstairs. Our family trust derives significant income from both the
                         commercial and short term residential aspects of the unit (and this is why we purchased the property).
                         Accordingly, the Subject Property provides an important source of income to me and my family and
                         contributes to our financial security.
                         As I understand it, under the Proposal, Noosa Council proposes a rezone from Tourist Accommodation
                         Zone to District Centre Zone of the Subject Property together with the other 16 similar commercial lots
                         (with residential units above) along Thomas Street and Gympie Terrace.
                         This change is not something that we would see as beneficial to us or to the community.
                         We would be open to a modified version of the proposal such that the whole of The Islander Noosa
                         retains the current zoning as ‘Tourist Accommodation’ but with the proposed zoning to ‘District Centre’
                         being overlaid on top of the commercial Lots so that the amendment makes both zones consistent use
                         – i.e. the apartments upstairs can be rented out as short term accommodation to guests who can enjoy
                         the rest of the Islander facilities and the downstairs commercial properties can be rented out to
                         commercial tenants (engaged in either the tourism industry or business district ventures).
                         This might present an opportunity for the Council to propose splitting the title between the upstairs short
                         term residential apartments and downstairs commercial offices for the 17 properties (including the
                         Subject Property) which have this unique feature. We would be open to such a proposal and this might
                         help win support from other owners.


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Table of Submissions made regarding Noosa Plan 2020 Proposed Amendment No. 2, 2024