SUBMISSION 30 Kingfisher Drive

Submission re MCU 21/0054 – 30 Kingfisher Drive Peregian Beach

We are home owners and permanent residents in Peregian Beach and very concerned about the increasing number of dwellings offering short-term accommodation in our suburb.

We specifically chose to buy in Peregian Beach because of the village atmosphere and supportive community, as well as the limited opportunity to develop the narrow stretch of land between beach and wallum/National Park.  The fact that the region had a strong and clear approach to development through Noosa Council was a huge incentive.

Sadly, over the years development has encroached our amenity of the area and the population is increasing without any regard to locals.  David Low Way is so busy now, that we often wait 5 minutes + to get out of our driveway and we are subjected to cars parking all along the front of our house which makes exiting our drive very dangerous as vision is blocked in both directions.  This is made worse by any events such as the markets.
Also, I am a Marriage Celebrant and well aware of couples wanting to book large houses to hold their ceremony and reception.  These can be large, noisy events with people sleeping over floors and on decks because the owners/agents do not supervise or check.  Sadly, I have conducted ceremonies in such houses and my heart went out to the neighbours who had their street turned into a carpark – including  verges & across driveways.  

Although the application for 30 Kingfisher Drive states “Premises to be used for luxury holiday rental and not to be rented out for large groups or parties”, in my experience, this is not adequately policed.  The contact person must have the authority to evict visitors who do not and are not willing to comply with the Visitor Code of Conduct and this requirement must be included in the Application and confirmed annually and when the person fulfilling the role changes. The Code of Conduct needs to advise visitors that eviction is possible if they do not comply with the Code and with any instructions from the Contact Person must be followed. Owners need to be held accountable for any failure by the contact person to act appropriately, including real estate agents and property managers, and be advised that these failures can impact on the approval to operate an STA.
Noosa is a popular choice for ‘destination weddings’ and most visitors are attracted by the natural beauty of the area and that it is not overcrowded or busy, like the Gold Coast.  Approving more large (potential) ‘party houses’ will only increase the associated problems of noise, drunkenness and loss of amenity for local residents.
We are personally impacted by groups of young people who stay in a house across the road from us (mainly for extended weekends) and they have no concern for local residents as they have music blaring and raucous voices which get increasingly louder as the alcohol is consumed.  These parties usually start around 4-5pm (if not at lunch time when they wake up) and continue until 3-4am – each day.  We have called the police on several occasions to no avail as the noise still continues after they leave.

We object to the above application not only because of our personal experiences listed above, but because this application is to change the use of the property from residential to short-term letting accommodation (STA). The dwelling has 5 bedrooms, a balcony and two parking spaces.
The proposal is contrary to the Noosa Plan,
Coastal Communities Local Plan, PO2 which states: Development contributes to the lifestyle and amenity of residents and visitors in the coastal communities. This proposal will impact on residential amenity:
Noise: Despite the application stating no large groups can stay, five bedrooms allows 10 adults to stay – and ten people can and usually do make a lot of noise,
Parking: It can only accommodate 2 cars on site so the other 3 or more will seek to park on the surrounding streets, in particular Pelican St and Kingfisher Drive. These streets already have significant parking problems – given they are so close to the village centre.
Coastal Communities Local Plan states: PO15 - Visitor accommodation is not to be located in areas which are predominantly permanent residential dwellings.
The Strategic Framework at 3.2.4 states:
“Conversely, neighbourhoods of permanent residents are protected from influxes of short-term visitors whose interests and priorities are not compatible with residential amenity. Party houses are restricted from establishing in Noosa Shire”.; and
At 3.3.3 (n) Neighbourhoods of permanent housing are protected from short term visitor accommodation that would impact on the amenity enjoyed by residents.
Another home being turned over to the STA market - it is weakening our community with serious consequences for any sense of  ”community”  - no care, no responsibility and no connection.
There is no need for more short-term accommodation in Peregian Beach. Another 20 dwellings have been approved for visitors at 215 David Low Way just up the road from us.

As volunteers with the local St Vincent de Paul Society, we would prefer to see low to medium priced long-term rental accommodation. This would also help local businesses which are finding it difficult to recruit staff as there is no reasonably priced accommodation available for long-term rent.
Noosa Council has a strong track record of sticking to the Noosa Plan and they should so in relation to this application.

Signed
Jacqui Clarke and Graham Sharp, of 201 David Low Way, Peregian Beach
[email protected]
[email protected]