2017-10-10 Planning & Environment Committee Agenda

PLANNING & ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                  10 OCTOBER 2017


     the proposed development. Need includes a variety of iterations including community need,
     economic need and planning need…
     Peregian has demonstrated declining occupancy rates for commercial short term
     accommodation facilities as a result of both demand and supply factors, suggesting that
     existing facilities are not necessarily meeting the needs of current and emerging visitor
     markets and that there is a need for new and additional facilities at the right type and scale
     in order to remain viable and in order for Peregian to retain its relevance and
     competitiveness in the Coast’s tourist and visitor markets. Emerging visitor markets for the
     Sunshine Coast are not necessarily well represented or catered for in Noosa Shire and
     Peregian Beach…
     It is Urban Economics’s opinion that there is need and demand for the proposed short term
     and permanent residential development in Peregian Beach and that the proposed
     development would have a net economic and community benefit for the Peregian Beach
     community, complimenting and consolidating the existing role of Peregian whilst not having
     a significant adverse impact on existing facilities in Peregian nor on the role of Noosa as
     the premier tourist destination for the Shire.
     The addition of 20 short term motel rooms and 12 accommodation units to the commercial
     accommodation market in Peregian Beach would increase the overall commercial short
     term accommodation stock by 26%. However, the proposed rooms would be positioned
     differently to the existing commercial stock, target different visitor market sectors, and
     represent only a small number of additional rooms particularly when including the overall
     stock of holiday homes in the area, and would therefore not have a significant impact on
     the existing commercial visitor accommodation market.
The report proposes that the proposed development is justified based on economic, community
and planning need and that it will provide for economic and community benefits. The basis for
these conclusions identified within the report includes:
   Increasing short-term accommodation occupancy rates on the Sunshine Coast and in key
     centres such as Noosa and Mooloolaba, are not being matched by other locations which
     lack the diversity of facilities. The proposed development would introduce a modern,
     alternative, short term accommodation facility to the Noosa Shire/Peregian Beach,
     contributing diversity to the market and to the mix of visitors attracted to the Region.
   ... that there is insufficient need and demand to support a major large scale short term
     accommodation facility in Peregian in light of major new developments emerging in nearby
     locations, as well as the scale of holiday home options available and the overall number of
     visitors to Peregian Beach, but that there is a niche market and need for boutique style
     short term accommodation to cater for emerging and unmet needs for short term
     accommodation in Peregian and Noosa Shire.
   The proposed development would positively contribute to visitation and growth within
     Peregian Beach, which would have flow on effects for local businesses and potentially the
     range of services that can viably be provided for visitors and the local community alike.
   ... the proposed permanent residential and short term visitor accommodation facilities will
     house potentially some 100 persons who would generate demand for convenience retail,
     takeaway food, dining facilities, entertainment etc. The proposed development is adjacent
     to and within walking distance of the core retail and lifestyle facilities of the Peregian Village
     precinct.
   The proposed development would also complement the mooted Digital Hub and community
     centre redevelopment at Peregian, providing additional conference and meeting spaces as
     well as short-term accommodation for business visitors to the Hub.
   Residential development opportunities across the Noosa Shire are dwindling and land
     supply is very limited. Thus, housing affordability in the Region and more particularly
     Peregian Beach, has decreased as land prices have increased. The proposed

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