MCU24/0003 Development Application For Material Change Of Use For Short-term Accommodation At 428 Cootharaba Road Cootharaba · Attachment 2 – (MCU24/0003) – Planning Officer’S Report

The proposal does not exceed any of these requirements.
3.3. Statutory Instruments – Planning Scheme
The subject site is located in Cootharaba Locality and is zoned Rural. The proposed use is
identified as a consistent use within the zone and is required to follow an impact assessable
application process.
Accordingly, the application must be assessed against the whole of Noosa Plan 2020 to the extent
the provisions are relevant to the development.
3.3.1   Strategic Framework
The Strategic Framework recognises that tourism is a key sector of the Noosa economy and will
continue to be so into the future, with key visitor areas identified including Hastings Street, Gympie
Terrace, Noosa River, Tewantin Marina, Noosa National Park, Sunshine Beach, Peregian Beach,
Noosa North Shore and the hinterland.
However, the Strategic Framework also identifies that visitor numbers and associated pressures
are increasing in and around Noosa’s natural attractions and impacting residential amenity and the
lifestyle of locals, the local environment, and accommodation for residents and guests.
Consequently, the Noosa Plan identifies and protects visitor accommodation areas, located within
the Tourist Accommodation Zone, at Noosa Heads, Noosaville and Noosa North Shore for visitors
to the exclusion of permanent occupants. It also conversely protects neighbourhoods of permanent
residents from influxes of short-term visitors recognising visitors interests and priorities are not
always compatible with residential amenity. These strategies are also reflected in the planning
scheme’s assessment tables and codes by identifying hort-term accommodation as an inconsistent
use in the Low Density Residential zone and requiring that medium and high density residential
zoned areas remain home to predominantly permanent residents.
Within the hinterland, the Strategic Intent states that the focus is directed towards high quality
nature-based and rural tourism experiences and events to diversify and balance the visitor
experience across Noosa Shire and promote the hinterland. The Tourism Strategy Noosa 2017-
2022 prepared by Tourism Noosa supports this focus by encouraging and promoting hinterland,
nature-based experiences to help disperse visitors throughout the region with a focus on ‘quality’
experiences that attract high spending interstate and international visitors to the region.
Accordingly, in the hinterland for rural zoned land, nature-based tourism is identified as accepted
development subject to requirements or code assessable, with short-term accommodation as code
assessable or consistent impact assessable development. Visitor accommodation in the hinterland
is supported by the planning scheme but is required to be low density and small scale and not
impact on rural activities, or the amenity, character or environmental values of the area.
The proposed short-term accommodation is consistent with the Strategic Intent and Outcomes of
the Noosa Plan 2020 to support rural tourism in the hinterland area.
3.3.3   Overlay Codes
Biodiversity, Waterways and Wetlands Overlay
The site is entirely located within the Biodiversity, Waterways and Wetlands Overlay, the front
portion of the premises identified as an area of biodiversity significance, with the rear portion
identified as riparian buffer. The use is located within an existing building and utilises existing
infrastructure, no vegetation clearing is required. The development will not compromise the
environment in which the dwelling is set.
Bushfire Hazard Overlay
The majority of the site, including the dwelling, is contained in an area of high potential bushfire
intensity. The building certifier is responsible for the certification of the dwelling and determines
whether the building achieves the required bushfire attack level. With the premises located in an
unreticulated area, a water supply dedicated to bushfire fighting is recommended to be conditioned
to assist in the event of the bushfire.
Landslide Hazard