Mayoral Minutes

Frank Wilkie0:00

I'd like to acknowledge that we're meeting on the traditional lands of the Kabi Kabi people and I pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging. That note that all councils are in attendance. Item 2 is the confirmation of the Minutes. May I have a mover and a seconder for the Minutes of the Ordinary Meeting held on the 18th of April. Happy to move, thank you. Moved by Councillor Lorentson and seconded by Councillor Stockwell. Thank you. All in favour? That's carried unanimously. I have a Mayoral minute. Give notice of my intention to move the following motion of the Ordinary Meeting on Thursday 16 May. It's to do with the housing availability and affordability planning and other legislation amendment act and consequential amendments. The motion reads that Council note the State government has responded to the current housing challenge through the recently passed bill. However, the consequential amendments being proposed to the supporting regulations, ministerial guidelines and development assessment rules have potential to circumvent and undermine council's good planning through its planning scheme. It could result in unacceptable development outcomes for the Noosa community. The bill's supporting material is currently on public consultation and it is recommended that Council make a formal submission raising particular on new state-facilitated development process, specifically that the State-facilitated development process bypasses local government's role to assess and decide development applications against planning schemes for these declared proposals. It provides only a minimal 15% affordable housing requirement with the breadth of eligible development being very broadly defined. The process does not clearly outline how affordable housing approved under this process will be maintained in perpetuity. It provides limited to opportunity the public to make submissions on development proposals public. Which it may result in inconsistent development outcomes in inappropriate locations where amenity may be compromised, building height and scale development limits may be exceeded and may severely impact areas which have previously received. Protection under environmental outlays. I can just speak further on this. The proposed amendments will provide a new development assessment process where a development application will be assessed by the State government rather than the local government. To bypass Noosa Council development proposal must include an affordable housing component equal to at least 15% of all promise. Because the applications do not need to comply with the Noosa planning scheme there is potentially no limit to the height or size of the developments that could on any lot deemed to have suitable infrastructure to support them. This could mean multi-storey units of unspecified height and low density residential neighbourhoods. There are also reduced time frames for approvals and limited feedback opportunity for residents who may be affected. It's important to acknowledge Noosa Council has a strong and proud history of upholding Noosa planning schemes, which have been enshrined and reinforced through numerous upheld Planning & Environment Court decisions. This persistent and dedicated local government planning has made Noosa of the community and destination it is today that our residents and visitors love. This Council is also very aware and supportive of achieving greater housing outcomes for our as addressed in council's comprehensive Housing Strategy endorsed over two years ago. This strategy has a range of actions already underway to achieve these outcomes in a manner that aligns with community expectations. As highlighted above there are significant concerns that the State facilitated development process may threaten or undermine this approach and Noosa Council will be strongly seeking the State government to reconsider their approach to this process to address concerns raised above and importantly ensure the local planning instruments such as the Noosa Plan 2020 will be adhered to. Does anyone else wish to speak to the motion?