Amendment No.2 to Noosa Plan 2020

Noosa Plan 2020 – Proposed Amendment No. 2 is a major amendment which seeks to support housing supply, housing choice, housing diversity and housing affordability by:

• expanding housing choice through smaller dwellings, accessible dwellings, affordable dwellings and dwellings specifically built for permanent rental;
• creating feasible pathways for the development of additional social or affordable housing;
• prioritising permanent residents within the Medium and High Density Residential zones and key centre zones by preventing further short-term accommodation;
• ensuring any visitor accommodation in Rural and Rural Residential zones is in conjunction with the permanent resident's dwelling and not replacing it;
• rezoning certain land to increase opportunities for smaller dwellings and key worker accommodation;
• reviewing the Tourist Accommodation Zone to both rezone some areas for permanent residents and neighbourhoods and a broader range of local business uses, as well as including certain existing resorts in the Tourist Accommodation zone;
• setting clearer expectations for the future development of the Noosa Business Centre so that it functions as an integrated village providing a diversity of housing and employment;
• establishing clear guidelines for the development of the Innovation Zone;
• facilitating an integrated health and wellbeing precinct within the Noosa District Sports Complex; and
• generally improving the operation of the planning scheme.

The proposed amendments implement the key recommendations of both the Noosa Housing Strategy 2022 and Short-term Accommodation Monitoring Report 2022.

While there was a range of issues raised in submissions from the community, there were ten (10) key issue areas, some of which resulted in recommended changes to the proposed amendments.

The Council Report and Submissions Table contain a summary of the submissions, response and recommendation to Council. 

The key issues identified through submissions and discussed in the Council report were:

1. Noosa Junction Hospitality Precinct - hours of operation extension and amplified music definition
2. Noosa Business Centre
3. Short term accommodation as an inconsistent use in Medium and High Density Residential zones and Centres zones
4. Tourist Accommodation zone review - specific sites proposed to be rezoned
5. Dwelling Houses becoming inconsistent in Medium and High Density Residential zones 
6. Size of Small Dwellings
7. Mandatory small dwellings in the Medium and High Density Residential Zones and dual occupancy
8. Affordable Rental Premises and associated bonus provisions, including building height
9. Environmental Conservation and Management zone and setbacks
10. Community Facilities zone - affordable housing

Following Council’s decision on 12 December 2024, a number of changes are proposed to the publicly notified amendments. Some of the key changes to be made include:

• Dwelling houses will be consistent in Medium and High Density Residential zones on lots less than 500sqm
• Dual occupancies will be consistent in the Medium Density Residential zone on lots less than 1000sqm
• Small dwellings will revert to the current size up to 100sqm
• It will not be mandatory to construct small dwellings in the Medium and High Density Residential zones but rather the current opt in bonus provisions for small dwellings will be retained;
• the proposed affordable rental bonus provisions will be removed from the Medium and High Density Residential zones except on the key sites being the former Noosa Bowls Club site and Noosa Business Centre;
• 48 Noosa Drive, Noosa Heads will allow additional uses to the proposed High Density Residential zone of short term accommodation where specifically low cost, being motel and backpackers over no more than 40% of the site and subject to a masterplan;
• the current Tourist Accommodation zone at 3 Hilton Terrace, Tewantin (Noosa Lakes Resort) and lots fronting Gympie Terrace, Noosaville at the Islander Resort will be retained;

Note other changes not listed above are also proposed as outlined in the Council report and minutes.

A Consultation Report will be prepared and made available to the public on Council's website, with submitters directly notified. This report will include Council’s decision on each specific issue.

Changes will be made to the proposed amendments consistent with Council’s decision including consequential changes, and forwarded to the State Government for Ministerial approval for adoption, together with the Consultation Report. This will be prepared and submitted to the State in early 2025.

Following approval from the Minister, a further report will be submitted to Council for final adoption.