2016-10-11 Planning & Environment Committee Agenda

LOCALITY: NOOSA HEADS
                                                         A significant number of houses and apartments are
Background                                               let to short term holiday makers for either all or part
                                                                                                                   and streetscape improvements, with little private
                                                                                                                   development activity. Noosa Junction has adequate
                                                         of the year. There are few vacant house blocks            public transport servicing the bus station. Noosa
Noosa Heads is a highly regarded destination, known
                                                         remaining in Noosa Heads and it is not uncommon for       Junction has good pedestrian access and pathways




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for the Noosa National Park, Hastings St, Noosa
                                                         older modest houses to be demolished and replaced         to surrounding residential areas. The pedestrian
Main Beach and the Spit. The varying landscape
                                                         with larger contemporary homes.                           atmosphere has been improved since the opening of




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and landforms have led to distinct residential
neighbourhoods as well as the business centre of         Duplexes, apartments and resorts dominate in              Eenie Creek Road and direction of through traffic to
Noosa Junction, the visitor centre of Hastings Street    areas such as Little Cove, Noosa Hill, to both sides      use Leslie Drive / Cooyar Street.




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and a neighbourhood centre at Quamby Place.              of Noosa Drive and on the southern side of Noosa          Despite small dwelling units being allowed in
                                                         Parade. There are few development sites remaining




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Noosa Heads had an estimated residential population                                                                Noosa Junction, the opportunity has not been
of 4,421 people at June 2015 and is expected to          with two prioritised for visitor accommodation at         taken up. While there is no residential or tourist
                                                         Settlers Cove and Noosa Springs.




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reach 5,809 people by 2036. Compared to the                                                                        accommodation in the centre itself, surrounding
balance of Noosa Shire, Noosa Heads has an older         To the south west of Leslie Drive relatively quiet        uses include houses, duplexes, units and visitor
population with 26.6% of the population over 65          neighbourhoods offer proximity to the waterways           accommodation.
and a median age of 50.5 years. A quarter of all         and open space, golf course, sports and recreation
households are lone person and 60% of families are                                                                 Noosa Junction has begun to emerge as a
                                                         facilities. These neighbourhoods are less affected by
couples with no children. Housing in Noosa Heads                                                                   hospitality, entertainment and creative industry
                                                         visitors.
is made up of both detached homes and attached                                                                     precinct within a causal atmosphere. Noosa Fair,
housing such as units and townhouses. Residential                                                                  Noosa Junction Plaza, Noosa Cinemas and “The
neighbourhoods vary depending on age, aspect and         Noosa Junction                                            J” are key destinations. Businesses are generally
lot sizes.                                               Noosa Junction is a vibrant traditional main street       independent rather than nation-wide chains.
                                                         centre and has served an important role in the            Co-working spaces are creating opportunities
Noosa Heads contains the largest portion of visitor
                                                         growth of coastal Noosa. There is a good mix              for collaboration for professionals and start-up
accommodation in Noosa, with over 2,000 visitor
units. Beyond Hastings Street, which is effectively      of commercial, retail, hospitality, entertainment         businesses. Relaxed bars and casual restaurants
reserved for visitors only, accommodation for visitors   and community facilities centred along Sunshine           cater to a range of age groups and create some
and permanent residents are interspersed. Many           Beach Road, and more recently Lanyana Way.                night time activity. The Noosa Creative Precinct aims
houses in Cooloola Estate and on Noosa Hill afford       With the exceptions of Noosa Fair and Noosa               to revitalise and transform Noosa Junction into a
good views and are within walking distance to a wide     Junction Plaza, Noosa Junction is characterised           cultural and creative hub, fostering new business
range of services and attractions. At Little Cove the    by older style one and two storey smaller buildings       and diverse industries. Monthly markets, street
National Park provides the backdrop and on Noosa         (despite allowing for three storeys). Projects over       entertainment and other weekend and night time
Sound access to the waterways is the main attraction.    the last 10 years include “The J”, the bus station        events have also reinvigorated Noosa Junction.

54 The New Noosa Plan