Development Assessment Report · MCU15/0122

KHA DEVELOPMENT MANAGERS – 15180                                                                December 2015



amount of medical services on offer for the ageing population of Noosa into the future. This is in
accordance with the example provided by Statutory Guideline 05/09 which uses residential care
accommodation to demonstrate the ‘urgent need for the proposal’ sufficient ground. The examples state
the following:

‘…there is an undersupply of residential care accommodation in the local government area and, as a result,
there is likely to be a significant shortfall in the amount of accommodation available in the next five
years...’

The urgent need for medical facilities in Noosa is evidenced by the attached Economic Needs Analysis
prepared by Urban Economics which found the following:

    The Noosa population is characterised by a distinctly older population aged 60+, indicative of the
     area’s popularity for retirees and the aged and a heightened propensity for access to health facilities.
    Noosa is expected to experience a growth of more than 5,100 persons aged 65+ between 2016 and
     2031 which will generate strong and ongoing demand for health and medical services.
    Analysis of persons who identified as having a ‘Need for Daily Assistance’ within Noosa revealed some
     2,700 persons or 4.8% of the population who would have a particularly high propensity for access to
     health and medical services. This need is most acute within Tewantin which had a very high 850
     persons or 8.4% of the population having a need for daily assistance.
    By 2016 there will be an estimated demand for 58 full time equivalent GPs and 85 specialists to cater
     for the needs and demands of the residents of Noosa. This demand is higher than the national
     average given the characteristics of the Noosa community.
    The demographic characteristics of the community are indicative of a particularly strong propensity for
     demand for health and wellbeing services. The Catchment Area is characterised by a growing, aged
     population who would require access to a broad range of health care services. The proposed medical
     centre would cater to a need of accessibility, convenience and availability of health care services
     which are particularly important to this demographic.
    In particular, it is Urban Economics’s opinion that the level of demand for medical practitioners within
     Catchment Area would be higher than the national average given the characteristics of the
     community, suggesting that the community is somewhat under serviced by clinical practitioners at this
     point in time.
    By improving the level of access to health services in the Catchment Area, the medical centre would
     have the potential to help to improve the overall health of the community, including addressing the
     identified population health issues in the locality. This would provide on-flowing economic benefits
     such as increased workforce productivity and lower long-term strain on the public health system.
    There are no purpose built health and specialist centres of the nature proposed within the Noosa
     Shire.
    There are no other premises offering 1,000m 2 of contiguous space for the relocation of Noosa
     Radiology. More particularly, there are no vacant and appropriate health premises that would
     maintain the proximity to the Noosa Hospital and convenience for patients as afforded by the subject
     site.
    The location of the proposed medical centre opposite the Noosa Hospital would create a ‘hub’ that
     allows Noosa to capitalise on the economic and social benefits that the co-location of related services
     provides.

The findings of the Economic Needs Analysis prepared by Urban Economics demonstrate and conclude:

There is a clear and pressing need for the development of a purpose-built health care centre that would
consolidate health care facilities within the one location, reducing the need for Noosa residents to travel
outside their local area to access radiology services and other specialist treatment.

Further, the proposed specialist health centre would have a net positive economic and social benefit for
the Noosa community and would not undermine the existing centres hierarchy. More particularly, it is
Urban Economics’s opinion that the proposed specialist health centre will complement and enhance the
vibrancy, vitality and performance of the centres network for Noosa.

Development Assessment Report                                                                    Page 29 of 34
Material Change of Use for Medical Centre and Café
52-58 Goodchap Street & 3-7 Val Crescent, Noosaville