2018-08-07 P&E Agenda - Attachment 1 to Item 3 - Noosa Biosphere Reserve 10 Year Periodic Review

                                                                 Noosa Biosphere Reserve - Periodic Review 2018



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An analysis of Expected Employment Growth 2017-2022 for Noosa by Lucid Economics shows the
significance and importance of the existing Accommodation and Food services, Healthcare, Education
and Professional services for future growth. All of these sectors are forecast to grow strongly. The study
also shows that Financial and Insurance services as well as Information, Media and
Telecommunications are sectors that are expected to grow into the future, but are not currently well-
represented in Noosa.

In response to these trends, the NSC’s Local Economic Plan identifies several economic sectors to be
supported and developed in the future. Both the NSC and the NBRF will be working together with other
key partners to ensure that sustainable economic development occurs in the NBR within the following
sectors:
•       Health and wellness
•       Digital economy
•       Rural enterprise
•       Environmental industries
•       Education and training
•       Tourism
•       Creative industries
•       Professional services

Planning and development

The NBR and the local community face interesting times ahead. Conservation and protection of the
natural environment has brought considerable benefits to the region to date. In the coming decades, the
goals of sensitive urban growth, a greener economy and more sustainable lifestyles will continue to be
important.

The existing development form has evolved from a long period of thoughtful planning and community
activism. This process has contributed a common vision for Noosa including low-key appropriately
styled development that is respectful to the setting and local environment. Typical urban symbols of tall
buildings, expansive signage and traffic lights are avoided. Landscaping using mostly endemic species
is a key feature of new development. NSC and the Noosa community have historically fought many
development battles at great cost to protect this vision.

Consequently, the Noosa urban form currently looks different to the rest of the Sunshine Coast with
controlled low rise development. Housing and shopping precincts in the NBR are confined to specific
zones, interspersed with areas of bushland and waterways. The Noosa Plan 2006 (current town
planning scheme) continues to implement this vision and is supported by a strong community
commitment to protect the environment.

Since the launch of the 1997 Strategic Plan there has been: ‘strong community support for a defined
limit on development, particularly for coastal areas where potential for decline in the quality of the
environment, character and lifestyle was identified if development increased significantly. The 1997
Strategic Plan estimated a population carrying capacity for Noosa Shire of 61,350 people: 40,150
people on the coast and 20,200 people in the hinterland and rural areas. That population capacity was
expected to be reached by now, however population growth slowed and if current levels remain, could
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be twenty years away. Many remaining sites are perhaps those that are more complex to develop’ .
The NSC is currently preparing a draft New Noosa Plan to be ready in 2019. The plan must be
approved by the State Government.

Map 4 (see next page) is the Strategy Map within The Noosa Plan 2006 that sets out the broad land use
intentions for Noosa Shire. It illustrates the extent of areas of ecological significance that surround
existing urban areas and which thereby limit any significant expansion of planned committed to urban
development.




35
     Ibid. p17
36
     NSC, New Noosa Plan – Discussion Paper, p12, 2017



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