2019-12-11 SM Agenda - Item 1 - Attachment 5 - Final New Noosa Plan - Part 1-6 - Clean version

Residential units and communal living such as retirement and aged care make up the remainder. To best meet future housing needs, it
is projected that by 2041 some 30 per cent of the total housing stock should be multi​­unit housing styles, particularly small one and two
bedroom dwellings to cater for smaller households.

By 2041, development needs to cater for around 6,400 more dwellings than existed at the 2016 census. Future housing demand,
particularly for smaller dwellings, is likely to be best met through 'infill' development within existing residential areas, on well​­located
under​utilised land, and within town centres in a mixed­use format. Residential growth in and around existing centres with ready access
to goods and services, attractive public spaces and community activities is encouraged. High standards of residential amenity and
building design is expected. However, style and size may vary to accommodate a range of household types and income levels. Incentives
are offered to exemplary and innovative residential developments that advance sustainable housing choice including affordable options
for aging in place and housing key workers.

The cost of housing can be high, so special effort is needed to allow for an element of affordability within the diversity of new housing
provided. A range of measures are provided to encourage housing affordability including requirements for small dwelling units close to
centres and facilitating an additional small dwelling on traditional house sites. Providing housing choice for key workers to support key
industry sectors is a particular focus. Established retirement communities, aged care facilities and transportable home parks are also
protected. Land set aside for retirement and aged care facilities at Tewantin, Cooroy, Noosa Heads, Noosaville and Sunrise Beach will
help cater for demand. The initiatives of Federal and State Government and community based not­for­profit entities in delivering more
affordable housing for residents in need are likely to be an important component of new housing.

Given Noosa Shire's popularity as a destination for visitors, accommodation is under increasing pressure from both residents and
guests. Visitor accommodation areas at Noosa Heads, Noosaville and Noosa North Shore are protected for visitors to the exclusion of
permanent occupants. The limited number of sites available for new resort development is protected for this purpose. Conversely,
neighbourhoods of permanent residents are protected from influxes of short­term visitors whose interests and priorities are not
compatible with residential amenity. Party houses are restricted from establishing in Noosa Shire.

3.2.5             Noosa's natural environment
The natural environment of the Shire is valued for its intrinsic biodiversity as well as for the range of ecosystem services that humans rely
on including the provision of food, water, raw materials, minerals, recreation, tourism and cultural values. It provides for soil quality and
fertility, water filtration, air purification, climate regulation, pollination, erosion control, decomposition and recycling of wastes. These
ecosystem services support the health and wellbeing of the community, contribute to the character and identity of places, provide access
to clean air and water, provide for a productive economy, including tourism and agricultural sectors, and offer opportunities to enjoy
nature, meet others, learn and be active and creative. Biodiversity conservation also provides protection from natural hazards such as
flooding and coastal erosion.

Through protection and enhancement of the natural environment, the scenic amenity and landscape character of the Shire remains
attractive and contributes to the lifestyle qualities valued by the community and visitors to Noosa Shire.

The Noosa Shire has outstanding environmental values with a diverse range of distinctive landscapes and exceptional biodiversity of
great local, regional and global significance. Of the 55 per cent of the Shire covered in native vegetation (as at 2017), more than 40,000
hectares i s classified as 'remnant' vegetation. While the Noosa Shire comprises 1.4 per cent of the total area of SEQ, it contains
representations of 39 per cent of the regional ecosystems that can occur in the SEQ bioregion.

Noosa Shire has a great diversity of ecological communities and flora and fauna species that are recognised and protected including the
critically endangered lowland rainforest community and critical habitats such as internationally recognised migratory bird habitats and
marine turtle nesting sites. Unique ecosystems include rare subtropical examples of patterned fens (wetland ecosystem), coastal
lagoon systems, sand lakes and dune systems. The Shire supports a significantly high proportion of endangered vegetation. Around 230
km2 of the Shire (over one third) is covered by protected reserves (as at 2017). As a result of this, and long standing management efforts,
the Noosa River estuary has been consistently awarded an A rating for water quality, the highest in SEQ.

A network of habitat areas and linkages provide ecological connectivity from a wide cross section of ecosystem types and altitudinal
ranges. These connecting habitat areas are shown on Strategic Framework Map SFM­4 ­ Biodiversity. A diverse network of wetlands is
also present, of good ecological condition and encompassing over 16,000 hectares. This interconnected biodiversity network has strong
adaptive capacity to endure the impacts of climate change and other emerging challenges because of the size and connectedness of
protected areas and remnant vegetation. Management actions and land use planning decisions are focused on strengthening and
building linkages to facilitate ecosystem diversity and movement both within and beyond Noosa Shire.

The diversity, distribution and condition of environmental values of the Noosa Shire play a critical role in conservation management


  **FINAL DRAFT ­ Post Consultation 2019**
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