2021-12-13 GC Agenda - Item 8 -Attachment 1 - Housing Needs Assessment

Small dwellings and co-housing models are encouraged to integrate within the neighbourhoods to
increase housing choice. There are numerous established holiday resorts included within this zone,
and despite short-term accommodation being a consistent use, new development in the zone is
predominantly intended for permanent residents. This zone occurs in most of the coastal urban areas
of Noosa Shire, as well as in Cooroy and Pomona.
The High Density Residential Zone is relatively limited, located in Noosaville, Noosa Heads,
Sunshine Beach, Sunrise Beach and the southern end of Peregian Beach. In general, the building
height is greater, typically three storeys. Much of the land is already developed to capacity with a
mix of permanent housing and resorts, some key sites close to Noosa Junction and the Noosa
Business Centre have scope for significant resident development. A wide range of accommodation
activities are consistent in the zone, including multiple dwellings, relocatable home parks, residential
care facilities, rooming accommodation and short-term accommodation.
Historically most of the land zoned for multiple dwellings has coincided with proximity to the beaches,
Noosa River and Noosa Hill. Medium Density and High Density Residential zoned land further from
these areas, but still close to services, is important for housing diversity across the Shire.
Also considered by the Planning Regulation as a “residential zone”, the Tourist Accommodation
Zone, the purpose of which is to provide for short-term accommodation and community uses, and
small-scale services, facilities and infrastructure to support short-term accommodation and tourist
attractions.
The Tourist Accommodation zone was generally applied to areas with a history of visitor
accommodation zones and/or to specific key resort sites protected for visitor accommodation by the
planning scheme or conditions of approval, to contribute to the tourism industry.
Historical development approvals and existing use rights has resulted in permanent residents living
in the Tourist Accommodation zone and visitor accommodation resorts located within the Medium
Density and High Density Residential zones. In addition, around 800 houses in the Low Density
Residential zone enjoy existing use rights for short-term accommodation.
The Rural Residential Zone is not specifically categorised as a residential zone by the Regulation,
but accommodates low density housing and semi-rural uses on large lots being the dominant form
of development. While the Rural Residential zone may be suitable for a hospice, this zone is rarely
appropriate for communal forms of housing. Likewise the Rural Zone is not a residential zone, but
allows for a house and other limited forms of housing such as for bone fide farm employees.


7.3         Housing in other zones
In addition to the residential zones, some forms of accommodation are allowed for in other zones.
This includes residential care and retirement villages in the Community Facilities zone as well as
mixed use development in the various centre zones, where Noosa Plan 2020 allows small dwellings
in a mixed use format generally above non-residential uses.
In the Rural Zone, caretaker’s accommodation is allowed subject to code assessment on a property
of at least 20 hectares in area. It must be used for bona fide caretaking or property management
purposes.
Rural workers' accommodation for up to 10 people, can also be located on rural properties of 20
hectares or greater, subject to code assessment. It is limited to bona fide employees of a rural use
carried out on site, and their immediate families. If the property is smaller, or the number of
accommodated occupants is greater it would be subject to impact assessment.
A Community residence (such as a hospice) is also allowed subject to code assessment in either
the Rural or Rural Residential Zone.
Caretaker’s accommodation is also permitted within Industrial zones where there is a bona fide
caretaking requirement for the industrial use of the property.



Noosa Housing Needs Assessment 2021                                                            Page 57