Amendments respond to housing crisis and state growth pressure

Noosa Mayor Frank Wilkie has thanked the community for making submissions during extended consultation on proposed planning scheme amendments. 

The amendments propose more smaller dwellings close to existing centres to manage state growth pressures while avoiding urban sprawl and preserving Noosa’s urban boundaries.

Cr Wilkie said the amendments were a local response to help address the nationwide housing availability and affordability crisis and meet state-imposed dwelling targets.

“There’s very strong community expectation that all levels of government need to work together to address this crisis and these proposals respect that,” Cr Wilkie said.

“We received an extra 100 submissions during the 10 day-extension, on top of more than 350 received during the original six-week consultation.’’

Cr Wilkie said that in order to stay within our urban boundaries and not create urban sprawl, the amendments propose more smaller dwellings close to existing centres in response to these pressures.

“It’s a difficult balance, but we will continue to take a conservative approach to growth while accommodating pressure to house more of south-east Queensland’s population and deliver what our community needs,” he said.

“They’re subject to changes to reflect community feedback, but our proposed amendments aim to deliver more homes, as well as a greater choice of homes - including smaller and more affordable dwellings - and all without compromising Noosa’s character and amenity.”

The Mayor said extending the consultation for the extra 10 days meant Council may no longer be able to submit the amendments to the state for sign-off before the October state election.

“The amendments may take significantly longer to be implemented but we’ve ensured those who wanted to could have a say.’’

Council wrote to 646 property owners in areas of proposed zone changes, as well as more than 390 owners adjoining proposed zone changes, to advise them of the changes and how to have a say.

Information was sent out to 105 planning, design and development consultants operating in Noosa, plus 39 stakeholder business and community groups to share with their members.

Around 300 people attended five information pop-ups and Council’s June 20 Ordinary Meeting to find out more and talk to Council planning staff about the proposed amendments.

Council will now analyse and understand the submissions and identify if changes need to be made to the amendments, based on this feedback, prior to submitting these back to the State government for sign off.