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

These figures have increased substantially and are particularly high compared to the income of
employment in Noosa Shire. As an example at Census 2016 the median total personal income in
Noosaville SA2 for workers aged 15 years and over was $41,491 per year (approx. $798 per week).
63.3% of workers were on less than $1,000 per week. Even considering potential wage increase
since 2016, this would make $480 for a one bedroom unit unaffordable and a three bedroom house
would cost almost the median income. This has considerable implications for one or even two income
households.
Because of the differences in postcodes and SA2 it becomes harder to make direct comparisons for
other localities. ABS data suggest of 5,587 counted households in the 4565 postcode, 2,365 had a
total household income of less than $1,000 per week39. It would now be very difficult to find a house
without spending at least two thirds of that on weekly rent.


10.4        Private Rental Vacancy Rates
Review of the rental housing market throughout the urban areas of Noosa Shire during the first half
of 2021 has revealed very low numbers of rental properties available. At any given time, less than
15 properties are advertised for rent through the real estate industry below $500 per week with a
high proportion being one bedroom apartments or granny flats. Others properties are advertised
privately through social media and online classified sites, however competition is high and properties
are taken quickly.
In January 2021 REIQ reported the two most popular destinations for interstate migration were the
Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast respectively. “Citing liveability, affordability and lifestyle along with
economic opportunities, education and an inclusive society, the Sunshine Coast may be drawing big
crowds but its rental market hasn’t shifted in months, firmly gripped at 0.3%. Many areas such as
…Noosa (0.4% rental vacancies) and Sunrise Beach (0.5%) have continued to tighten marginally
over the last three months”.40
More recently REIQ reported41 rental demand levels far outstripping available vacancies across
regional Queensland, with a rate of 0.4% recorded across Gympie and the Sunshine Coast.
Domain also reports a 0.4% vacancy rate for the June quarter across the Sunshine Coast.42 The
surge in demand reportedly fuelled by interstate migration and returning expats as a result of Covid-
19 and lockdowns in southern capitals.
SQM Research shows a dramatic fall in rental vacancies across the Sunshine Coast through 2020
with a slight increase in 2021. At the time Briggs & Mortar were doing the previous Housing Needs
Assessment (2016-2017) there was a vacancy rate of around 2% or more.




39 2016 Census of Population and Housing General Community Profile for postcode 4565
40 REIQ 18 January 2021
41 REIQ 19 April 2021
42 Sarah Webb Domain Media 12 July 2021




Noosa Housing Needs Assessment 2021                                                            Page 86