Planning scheme amendments to improve housing choice and diversity open for comment

A range of planning scheme amendments aimed at addressing the local housing challenges and further limiting the spread of short-term accommodation are now out for community comment. 

The proposed planning scheme amendments are intended to help to protect residential areas for permanent residents and deliver more housing choice and diversity.

Residents can find out more and have a say at a series of planned pop-ups across the shire, and online at yoursay.noosa.qld.gov.au, from May 31.

Mayor Frank Wilkie said the proposed amendments have been with the state government for 12 months undergoing a state interest check.

“We now have the all-clear from the state government to present the proposed amendments for feedback,” he said.

“These amendments will enable us to implement key recommendations of both the Noosa Housing Strategy – developed with input from our community in 2022 – and the Short-term Accommodation Monitoring Report 2022.

“We said we’d further limit the spread of short-term accommodation and do all we can at the local government level to improve the housing situation, and these amendments do that,” the Mayor said.

The proposed changes aim to:

• Expand housing choice by requiring and incentivising smaller dwellings, accessible dwellings, affordable dwellings, and dwellings specifically built for permanent rental.
• Pave the way for development of more social or affordable housing.
• Prevent further short-term accommodation within medium and high-density residential zones and key centre zones to prioritise permanent residents.
• Rezone certain areas to increase opportunities for smaller dwellings and key worker housing.

“The amendments also propose to rezone some Tourist Accommodation zone areas in Noosaville, Noosa Heads and Sunshine Beach for permanent residents and a broader range of local business uses.”

Council’s Strategy and Environment Director Kim Rawlings said the suite of amendments would also set clearer expectations for the future development of the Noosa Business Centre precinct.

“The changes will ensure it functions as an integrated village offering a diversity of employment opportunities, but also housing outcomes,” she said.

“The changes will establish clear guidelines for the development of the innovation zone at the Shire Business Centre to enable suitable and developable land for our growing innovation industries.

To find out more about the proposed amendments and talk to a planner, visit one of the upcoming pop-ups:

• Noosaville – Noosa Farmers Markets – Sunday, June 9. 
• Noosaville - Gympie Terrace (near Boathouse) – Thursday, June 13. 
• Peregian Beach – Peregian Square – Friday, June 14, 2-5pm.
• Noosa Heads - Arcadia Street– Wednesday, June 19, 11am-2pm.
• Pomona - Pomona Memorial School of Arts Hall, Thursday, June 20, 2pm–5pm.
• Cooroy - outside Harvest Fresh- Friday 21 June 9am-12pm

The proposed amendments are available online along with factsheets, frequently-asked-questions, maps of key proposed amendments and 3D fly-through imagery of housing outcomes at yoursay.noosa.qld.gov.au

Electronic copies of the proposed amendments are also available at Council’s offices at 9 Pelican Street Tewantin, and Noosaville and Cooroy Libraries.

Submissions can be made on any aspect of the proposed amendments until Sunday, July 14 via yoursay.noosa.qld.gov.au, by email to NP2020amendments@noosa.qld.gov.au or via post to Noosa Plan 2020, PO Box 141 Tewantin Qld 4565. Submissions must carry the submitter’s name and address.