260327_Stockwell Further Advice Response

Advice Required
1. Provide additional information to address the Overall Outcome (4)(a) of the Major Centre Zone
Code and (2)(h) of the Noosaville Local Plan Code. This information should include:
        (a) An Economic Needs Assessment which outlines why the addition of 5 indoor sport and
        recreation tenancies are required and meet the intent of the relevant codes.

Stockwell Response
The construction of ‘Medihub’ was completed in 2024 including 20 x individual tenancies
(Commercial Business Type 1 Office & Type 2 Medical). Since completion, five (5) of these
tenancies (CC12, CC16, CC18, CC19, CC20) have remained vacant. Stockwell have received
multiple Expressions of Interest from tenants proposing uses such as pilates, yoga, sports
recovery, small scale gym, etc, which fall under the defined use of ‘Indoor Sport and Recreation’.

In order to ensure the Medihub precinct, and wider Noosa Civic (Major Centre – Noosa Business
Centre) provides for a large variety of uses and activities to service the Noosa Shire, Stockwell
seeks the approval for Indoor Sport and Recreation to fill vacant tenancies and support the
vitality of the centre and provide employment generating uses. The colocation of Indoor Sport
and Recreation with Health Care Uses is considered to be appropriate and complementary.
Furthermore, it provides increased convenience, accessibility and choice which aligns with the
Overall Outcomes of the Major Centre Zone.

In response to the Further Advice received from Council, Stockwell have instructed Think
Economics to undertake an Economics Needs Assessment (Refer to Appendix A). The report
identifies the relevant need conditions related to the MCU application by assessing the existing
market conditions and future demand for Indoor Sport and Recreation uses. It is evident from
the assessment there is need and the trade area can support additional facilities; the proposal
should therefore be supported by Council.

The findings of the Economic Needs Assessment identifies a supply gap across key areas
including gym, pilates, yoga and sports recovery, translating to economic need for the scale and
mix of indoor sports and recreation uses proposed. The identified need in the trade area is
primarily owing to the following key themes:
    - Benefit to demographic population, contributing not only to personal
        health;
    - Demand linked to higher household incomes;
    - Prominent tourist destination; and
    - Fast growing global wellness industry – average 7.5% between 2019
        and 2023.

The socio-demographic profile of the trade area has been analysed at section 3.2 of the
Economic Needs Assessment, key statistics are tabled below.