2016-10-11 Planning & Environment Committee Agenda

THEME: COMMUNITY WELLBEING
Where are we now                                          Noosa has an older population and comparatively
                                                          fewer young people than the rest of Queensland.
                                                                                                                 Mary Street / Thomas Street and Cooroy’s Eden
                                                                                                                 Rehabilitation Centre. Noosa Private Hospital
                                                          Nearly one quarter of the population lives alone       provides private and public health services with
Noosa has a strong identity and sense of place
                                                          which is similar to the National average. Noosa has    public beds funded by the State government. Higher




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with a very defined image and character made up
                                                          a large number of people on fixed incomes, such as     levels of medical service are provided outside of
of both natural and built features. This character
                                                          pensions. While the unemployment rate is lower than    Noosa Shire at Nambour Hospital currently and in




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contributes to how people interact with each other
                                                          the State average, there are many residents in part    the future at Sunshine Coast University Hospital at
and their environment, their sense of belonging and
                                                          time and casual work.                                  Kawana. There are residential aged care services




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engagement in the community and their surrounds.
                                                                                                                 located in Cooroy, Tewantin and Noosa Heads.
                                                          The community particularly enjoys creativity with
Heritage                                                                                                         Noosa is well serviced by eight state primary




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                                                          many participating in theatre, music and the arts.
                                                          Community facilities and special interest groups       schools, two state high schools, two catholic
Noosa’s heritage dates back thousands of years                                                                   schools, six independent schools and colleges
                                                          are well frequented and 20.5% of the resident




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with the traditional life of Indigenous people. For the                                                          and a flexible learning centre. Noosa has 27 early
                                                          population volunteer compared to the National
traditional owners the Kabi Kabi (Gubbi Gubbi), their                                                            childhood education and care services including 14
                                                          average of 17.8%. Noosa has a strong and active
cultural connection to the land that makes up Noosa                                                              long day care centres.
                                                          community sector with about 300 not-for-profit
Shire dates back over 18,000 years and there are
                                                          groups. Noosa is a safe place to live with lower       Noosa has limited tertiary education services
many reminders still existing in the landscape and in
                                                          levels of crime than the Queensland average. The       although these are of a good standard.
the names and stories of natural features.
                                                          community are generally well connected digitally       Consequently, a large number of students living in
Buildings from early European settlement are              with 80.9% of dwellings connected to the internet.     Noosa travel south for tertiary education. Central
significant as architectural examples as well as for
                                                                                                                 Queensland University has a campus in Goodchap
their former use and role in our history, such as
schools, churches, hotels and residences. Some            Community Infrastructure                               Street, Noosaville and University of Sunshine Coast
                                                                                                                 has a small campus at the J. There are no TAFE
of these are now used for different purposes. Key         Noosa is well serviced by community halls and          facilities in Noosa, with the campus in Tewantin
character areas are located in the Noosa Hinterland       spaces for meetings and gatherings spread              closing in 2014.
at Cooroy, Cooran, Pomona and Kin Kin.                    throughout the shire. Noosa has libraries at
                                                          Noosaville and Cooroy and a mobile library service.
People                                                    These facilities are also utilised by some residents   Open space, Sports and
The Noosa community is highly engaged both
                                                          outside of Noosa Shire.                                Recreation
politically and socially. Noosa has a diverse cultural    Noosa has considerable health services with three      Noosa residents and visitors enjoy an outdoor
mix with residents from a variety of Australian and       potential medical precincts emerging at Goodchap       lifestyle and the Shire has an abundance of natural
international backgrounds and experiences.                Street Noosaville, including Noosa Private Hospital,   landscapes that provide a range of land and water

22 The New Noosa Plan