Report details 48 actions to tackle local housing challenges

A letter-writing campaign that saw more than 100 short-stay properties transferred to the long-term rental market is among the actions Noosa Council has taken to tackle the local housing crisis. 

A staff report provides an update on 48 specific commitments Council made as part of its Housing Strategy to address the local housing crisis.

It’s included in a staff report detailing what Council has done to address the issue since adopting its Noosa Housing Strategy a year ago.

Mayor Clare Stewart welcomed the staff report - tabled at Monday’s General Committee Meeting – which provides an update on 48 specific commitments.

“Our Housing Strategy is a huge body of work. It’s the most proactive and aggressive step this council has taken to address our local housing challenges,” the Mayor said.

“We’ve written to 900 short-stay property owners to encourage them to transfer their properties to the permanent rental market.

“This campaign was successful with many properties shifting from short-stay to permanent rental. This is significant as Council or the market could not have delivered this many homes in this short time frame for use of long-term rental or permanent occupation.”

Council’s Director of Strategy and Environment, Kim Rawlings, said many local property owners are taking up the challenge to help “Keep Noosa Home”. 

“For example, building approvals have been issued for over 150 secondary dwelling since the introduction of Noosa Plan 2020 and spare rooms are being offered to tenants,” she said.

Share housing models are being taken up with programs such as “Better Together” which is helping mature single women to access comfortable, affordable housing through communal living.

Mayor Stewart said a stakeholder reference group Council formed to provide input on housing issues had brought key players together.

“Plus, the Housing Forum we held on March 1 provided an opportunity to personalise the housing crisis with local stories, and it reinforced the importance of Council taking a role in the housing space, which the state and federal governments are ultimately responsible for.

“We’ve introduced a transitory rating category for short-stay properties – we were the first local government in Queensland to do that, followed soon after by Brisbane City Council,” Cr Stewart said.

“We’ve introduced the Short-Stay Letting Local Law to better regulate the use of residential properties for short-stay letting.”

The Mayor said Council’s partnership with Youturn to establish two tiny homes on Council land was meeting an important crisis accommodation need.

“We’ve also signed an MoU with Coast2Bay Housing and we continue to work with them to investigate potential community housing opportunities on Council land.  The first site is in Cooroy, but subsequent joint ventures will be investigated with the industry and community housing sector in Noosa Heads and Tewantin.  

“We’re also working with the state to get the best outcome from two specific local sites, including the Department of Housing’s site at Tewantin, which will deliver more community and affordable housing for our residents.”

The Mayor said Council’s proposed amendments to Noosa’s planning scheme stood to facilitate the roll-out of smaller and more affordable housing options.

“These amendments have been with the state government for some months and we’re hopeful of getting a green light soon so that we can implement the changes to help expedite more affordable housing for our shire.”

The Mayor said Council had made good progress delivering actions outlined in the Housing Strategy.

“This Strategy is advancing our vision of an inclusive Noosa community where everyone has access to safe and secure housing they can afford,” Mayor Clare Stewart said.

“We’re certainly doing our bit to address the housing crisis and I’m proud of the work this council has done over the past year,” Mayor Stewart said.