9-3-5VisitorAccommodationCode_66_14-May-2026 · MCU26/0102

9.3.5	Visitor Accommodation Code
9.3.5.1	Application
This code applies to acceptable development which is subject to requirements and to assessable development identified as requiring assessment against the Visitor Accommodation code by the tables of assessment in Part 5 (Tables of assessment).
9.3.5.2	Purpose and overall outcomes
The purpose of the Visitor Accommodation code is to ensure visitor accommodation is appropriately located, designed and operated in a manner which meets visitor needs, protects and enhances landscape values, protects the amenity of surrounding premises and avoids conflicts with surrounding uses. The overall outcomes sought for the Visitor Accommodation Code are: Visitor accommodation is compatible with and benefits from Noosa Shire’s natural environmental values. Visitor accommodation offers a wide range of experiences for guests both in coastal areas and in the hinterland. Visitor accommodation is located and designed in a manner which sensitively responds to site characteristics. Visitor accommodation does not detrimentally impact upon the biodiversity and natural landscape values of its setting. Visitor accommodation does not deplete housing stock for permanent residents; The density and design of visitor accommodation integrates with the urban or landscape fabric of its particular locality. Visitor accommodation located near permanent residents does not detract from the amenity enjoyed by residents. Visitor accommodation does not impact on the ability of rural land owners to carry out agricultural pursuits. Visitor accommodation provides high quality amenities and facilities commensurate with its setting, the types of accommodation supplied and the length of stay accommodated. Visitor accommodation forms a key element of the local tourism industry. Visitor accommodation provides for a wide range of visitors.
FOR ACCEPTED DEVELOPMENT The requirements for Acceptable Development are the acceptable outcomes listed in the Table of Assessment. Accepted development that complies with the acceptable solutions is considered to satisfy the requirements. If development complies with some, but not all, acceptable outcomes, an application for Code Assessment will be necessary and the application will be assessed against the relevant Performance Outcome(s).
FOR ASSESSABLE DEVELOPMENT Acceptable outcomes are provided for some, but not all, performance outcomes, and identify ways in which performance outcomes can be met. Compliance with the performance outcome should be demonstrated and the acceptable outcomes are considered as one way to satisfy the corresponding performance outcome.
9.3.5.3	Assessment Criteria
Table 9.3.5.3.1 - Criteria for assessment
	 Performance outcomes	Acceptable Outcomes	Comments  All Visitor Accommodation	  Location	 	 PO1 Visitor accommodation is located such that it avoids conflicts with nearby land uses.	AO1.1 Visitor accommodation is not located within: 150 metres of land within the Low impact industry zone; 200 metres of land within the Medium impact industry zone; the designated separation area of a Key Resource Area; 250 metres of an intensive animal industry, intensive horticulture use or rural industry; or 100 metres of agricultural operations on adjoining premises. Editor’s Note— Key Resource Areas and separation areas are shown on the Extractive Resources Overlay Map AO1.2 Visitor accommodation is not within 100 metres of an educational establishment or childcare centre.	Complies 	 PO2 Development is located on a site with an area sufficient to accommodate the use without detracting from the character and amenity of the local area, including residential amenity.	AO2.1 Within the urban boundaries, the site of a tourist park has a minimum area of 8,000m2. AO2.2 In the Rural zone the site used for a tourist park has a minimum area of 10 hectares. AO2.3 In the Rural zone or Rural Residential zone the site used for Nature-based tourism or short-term accommodation has a minimum area of 4 hectares.	Complies  Effects of use	 	 PO3 Development has a scale and density that is compatible with the intent of the zone and the preferred character for the local area in which it is located.	No acceptable outcome provided	Complies 	 PO4 Visitor accommodation is located such that it preserves the safety of guests and does not impact on the function of infrastructure including: the major road network; the North Coast railway line; existing and future electricity supply infrastructure; and water supply and waste water treatment.	AO4.1 Accommodation adjacent to or within 50 metres of an existing electricity substation incorporates noise attenuation measures to mitigate noise impacts. AO4.2 Buildings and structures (including swimming pools, sheds, tennis courts and outbuildings) are not constructed under overhead electricity transmission lines, or within electricity easements. AO4.3 Accommodation within a designated transport noise corridor; or within 100 metres of an existing electricity substation— incorporates noise attenuation measures to mitigate noise impacts and; guests are not accommodated in lightweight shelters (such as tents, yurts, recreational vehicles, or relocatable dwellings). Editor’s Note— The State Planning Policy Interactive Mapping System can be used to find out if a property is located in a designated transport noise corridor or close to electricity infrastructure. AO4.4 Accommodation within a water catchment area relies on minimal clearing of natural vegetation, earthworks, and movement of sediments or nutrients from the site and any on-site disposal of effluent is to a secondary treatment standard. Editor’s Note— The water supply buffer area is shown on the Regional Infrastructure Overlay Maps. AO4.5 Accommodation does not occur within 400 metres of a sewerage treatment plant.	Complies – Located within a water catchment and effluent disposal treated to a secondary standard.  Safety and amenity	 	 PO5 Walkways, carparks and publicly accessible facilities, including toilets, and bicycle racks are located and designed to allow casual surveillance by other persons.	No acceptable outcome provided	Complies – Accessible units 	 PO6 Pathways allow clear sightlines in all directions.	No acceptable outcome provided	Complies 	 PO7 Adequate lighting is provided to building entrances, carparks and pedestrian routes.	No acceptable outcome provided	Able to comply 	 PO8 Buildings and outdoor spaces are designed to allow for natural surveillance without adversely impacting the privacy of guests or neighbouring premises.	AO8.1 For accommodation consisting of multiple lettable tenancies the office or reception area: is located at the front of the site or is easily identified from the street; and enables surveillance of entry points. AO8.2 The entry points to accommodation are clearly identifiable and accessible from the car parking areas and pathways without passing through private open space areas. AO8.3 Accommodation is sited so as not to overlook the living areas of neighbouring premises.	Complies – sited to not look into neighbouring properties 	 Landscaping PO9 Adequate landscaped area: is provided for the benefit of guests; contributes to establishing an attractive and safe streetscape; and protects the amenity and privacy of adjoining residents.	AO9.1 Within urban boundary a minimum of 30% of the site, inclusive of any buffer or setback areas, is developed and maintained as landscaped area for the benefit of occupants, excluding mixed use buildings with non-residential uses fronting Gympie Terrace where a minimum of 10% is required. AO9.2 A landscaped area is provided and maintained within the site for a minimum width of: for a mixed use building with non-residential uses fronting Gympie Terrace, Noosaville: 1 metre adjacent to a road frontage; and 2 metres adjacent to the rear property boundary; or unless otherwise specified above: 3 metres adjacent to a road frontage; and 2 metres adjacent to side and rear property boundaries.	NA 	 Vehicles PO10 The operation of visitor accommodation avoids the parking of buses within low level residential streets.	AO10 Where adjoining properties in the Low Density Residential or Medium Density Residential zones and located on a local road as defined on the road network hierarchy, the use does not involve parking of buses including 4WD buses, exceeding either a 20 seat capacity or 8 tonne gross vehicle mass on or around the site.	NA 	 PO11 Safe vehicular access is provided to and from the site without adversely impacting on the safety of the road network.	AO11.1 Visitor Accommodation is directly accessible from a sealed road or a good standard gravelled road. AO11.2 Visitor accommodation does not gain direct access from part of the major road network which has a legal speed limit of 90 kilometres per hour or above. AO11.3 Where: the site gains access from part of the major road network; or more than 10 guests are accommodated— vehicle manoeuvring areas are provided on site such that vehicles enter and leave the site in a forward gear.	Complies 	 PO12 Sufficient on-site car parking is provided to accommodate the number and type of vehicles likely to be generated by the visitor accommodation having regard to the number of guests, staff or visitors.	AO12.1 Visitor car parking spaces are: accessible at all times; not located behind locked gates; and not located in tandem with a garage or other car parking space AO12.2 Short term parking is provided near the office to allow for check-in and check-out. Editor’s Note— the rate of car parking required is addressed in Part 9.4.1 Driveways and Parking Code	Complies 	 PO13 Visitor accommodation is provided with a level of infrastructure and services that: is appropriate to its location and setting; maintains environmental and public health; and is commensurate with the needs of users.	AO13.1 Visitor accommodation is: connected to the reticulated sewer infrastructure network; or where not located in a sewered area, the premises are connected to an onsite effluent treatment and disposal system. Editor’s Note—the Plumbing and Drainage Act 2018 sets outs requirements for on-site effluent treatment and disposal. AO13.2 Visitor accommodation is: connected to the reticulated water supply infrastructure network; or where reticulated water supply is not available, provided with an alternative drinking water supply source (e.g. rainwater) that complies with the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (NHMRC,2011)	Complies

Table 9.3.5.3.4 - Additional criteria for assessment - Short-term accommodation
 Short-term accommodation 		 PO22 In mixed use developments, buildings are designed and uses operated to ensure resident guests: are not unduly impacted by business or entertainment activities; are afforded a high level of privacy and security; and have access to a reasonable level of private outdoor living space.	AO22.1 Mixed use building formats ensure: separate identifiable, well lit and safe pedestrian access to building entries and units; private accommodation spaces are clearly defined by using features such as low walls, changes in surface texture or other landscape treatments; and business or entertainment customers and patrons do not have access to areas that are intended for the exclusive use of resident guests. AO22.2 Accommodation units are provided with private open space or a balcony directly accessible from a habitable room that: is a minimum area of 6m2; has a minimum dimension of 2 metres; and does not accommodate air conditioning units.	Complies 		 PO23 Development facilitates the security of people and property having regard to: opportunities for casual surveillance and sight lines; exterior building design that promotes safety; adequate lighting; appropriate signage and wayfinding; and building entrances, loading and storage areas that are well lit and lockable after hours.	AO23.1 Walkways, car parks and publicly accessible facilities, including toilets, and bicycle racks are located and designed to allow casual surveillance by other persons. AO23.2 Pathways allow clear sightlines in all directions. AO23.3 Adequate lighting is provided to building entrances, car parks and pedestrian routes. AO23.4 The property, including service areas can be secured at night time. Editor’s Note— Applicants may find useful guidance in the Queensland Government’s Crime Prevention through Environmental Design Guidelines for Queensland.	Complies 		 PO24 Short term accommodation is limited to formats compatible with the character and use of the area so as not to cause unreasonable loss of residential amenity to adjoining permanent residential areas, having regard to: the privacy of residents on the subject property or adjoining properties; any likely increase in noise to adjoining properties; the scale of the use and its compatibility with the character and uses within the property or surrounding area; the impact on the safety and efficiency of the local road network; the impact of waste storage areas on the visual amenity of the area or sensitive land uses; and any impact on shared vehicular access or parking.	No acceptable outcome provided	Complies 		 PO25 Short-term accommodation in the Rural or Rural Residential Zone: is at a small scale and low density and does not detract from the rural or rural residential amenity of adjoining properties; takes the form of small separate buildings rather than large floor plates; and complements permanent housing for the resident occupant(s)	AO25.1 In the Rural and Rural Residential Zones, short-term accommodation buildings and structures do not occupy more than 1% of the site area AO25.2 For visitor accommodation in the Rural or Rural residential zone, site density does not exceed one accommodation building per hectare. AO25.3 If visitor accommodation takes the form of a single guest house or lodge with shared facilities, building articulation and distinct roof forms minimise the visual bulk of the building.	Complies

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Print Date: 17/06/2026
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Noosa Plan 2020: Amendment 3 test 
Part 9 Development codes \ 9.3 Use Codes \ 9.3.5 Visitor Accommodation Code