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

The Noosa Plan has created an administrative term of “small dwellings” which means a dwelling that
has no more than 100m² of gross floor area27. The plan provides bonus provisions for small
dwellings. These bonuses include increased allowable plot ratio, increased allowable site cover,
reduction in required landscaped open space and reduction in required carparking.
As well as using these bonuses to encourage more small dwellings, they are specifically the only
forms of dwellings supported in some areas, such as the centre zones.
The Major Centre Zone at Noosa Junction allows for small dwellings in conjunction with non-
residential uses in mixed use formats. The three storey height limit allows for one or two levels of
business uses with dwellings above. The carparking requirements encourage these to be two
bedroom units. Areas adjacent to Noosa Junction (including the former Noosa Bowls Club) have
been included in the High Density Residential Zone and can accommodate three storey unit
development.
At the Noosa Business Centre, also in the Major Centre Zone there is a specific High Density
Residential Precinct where multiple dwellings in a ratio of small dwellings to other dwellings of at
least 3:1 is the preferred form of development. This can be developed to a height of 3 storeys.
Additionally, the Village Mixed Use Precinct allows for small dwellings where in conjunction with non-
residential uses in a mixed use format, also to a height of three storeys.
The planning scheme requires that where the development for multiple dwellings occurs on Lot 3
RP884396 (the former Noosa Bowls club) and in the High Density Residential precinct of the Noosa
Business Centre, dwellings must meet the needs of different households. The acceptable outcome
seeks 20% of housing to be affordable housing and specifically 10% be social housing. In addition
short-term accommodation is not a consistent land use in these locations.
The District Centres at Noosaville, Tewantin and Cooroy also allow for small dwellings in conjunction
with non-residential uses in mixed use formats. This allows for redevelopment of underdeveloped
sites with “shop top” styles of housing and will activate the centres after hours.
The various local centres and neighbourhood centres also allow for small dwellings in a mixed use
format, providing residential floor space does not exceed the non-residential floor space. Again, this
allows for “shop top” housing or in some cases dwellings behind businesses.
There has been criticism that Noosa Council places high design standards on multiple housing,
adding to the cost of the final housing. However community consultation over many years and
various planning exercises has affirmed the local community expects quality built form and spaces
between buildings for sunlight and vegetation.
7.4.4             Community Residences
A community residence is a defined use for up to 6 children accommodated as part of a program or
service under the Youth Justice Act 1992, or up to 6 persons who require assistance or support with
daily living needs. The use also allows for one resident support worker.
The Planning Regulation dictates that under the following circumstances a community residence
must be supported in prescribed zones.
1.    no more than 7 support workers attend the residence in a 24-hour period; and
2.    at least 2 car parks are provided on the premises for use by residents and visitors; and
3.    at least 1 of the car parks is suitable for persons with disabilities; and


27 gross floor area for a building, means the total floor area of all storeys of the building, measured from the

outside of the external walls and the centre of any common walls of the building, other than areas used for—
a) building services, plant or equipment; or
b) access between levels; or
c) a ground floor public lobby; or
d) a mall; or
e) parking, loading or manoeuvring vehicles; or
f) unenclosed private balconies, whether roofed or not.


Noosa Housing Needs Assessment 2021                                                                    Page 61