Approvals and economic data refute Chamber of Commerce claims

Noosa Council’s long-term commitment to responsible development that adapts to meet genuine needs and ensures liveability remains strong, Mayor Frank Wilkie said. 

Council has approved more than 95% of the 750 development applications received since July last year.

“Change is upon us with the State now able to sideline all Queensland councils, but we are seeking to work with them and applicants to have proposals assessed against Noosa planning settings,” he said.

“This ‘quality over quantity’ - as opposed to the ‘develop at any cost’- approach has made Noosa an extremely attractive place and created the relatively high social and economic value attached to living here.”

Noosa Chamber of Commerce’s claims that Council was stifling development and therefore restricting the local economy were misleading, Cr Wilkie said.

“More than 95% of the 750 development applications received since July last year were approved,” he said.

“In addition, 91% of all material change of use and 98% of operational works development applications were assessed within statutory timeframes set by the State Government under the Development Assessment Rules.

“Economic data shows Noosa is outperforming much of the state - Noosa Shire’s Gross Regional Product (GRP) has consistently outpaced Queensland’s average GRP growth, since 2021,” Cr Wilkie said.

“Despite relatively modest population increases, percentage growth in our GRP in 2022 was more than double that of the Queensland average, reaching a record $3.69 billion in 2023.”

The Mayor said the Chamber’s suggestion Council should treat Noosa’s planning scheme as a guide rather than a legal document that protected Noosa’s liveability, was concerning.

“If acted upon, a high-demand destination like Noosa could potentially have turned out like other coastal cities.”

Council recently wrote to both sides of state politics calling for commitments that development plans lodged through the new state facilitated development pathway will be assessed against the town plan.

The state is currently considering proposals for a 195-unit residential and commercial development in Noosa Junction and a 40-unit project in Tewantin, but has not released plans.

“It’s unfortunate the Chamber of Commerce seems to support a process that removes councils and local communities from formal input into the development assessment process,” the Mayor said.

The new pathway, which has no application fees and is funded by taxpayers, allows developers to circumvent council assessment and go directly to the state for approval by including a 15% affordable housing component.

Council’s Strategy and Environment Director Kim Rawlings said Noosa was well on track to meet its housing targets as set by the State and was working with the State and a Community Housing Provider to deliver genuinely affordable housing.

“Council is very supportive of achieving improved housing outcomes for our community as addressed in our comprehensive Housing Strategy, endorsed two years ago. It has a range of actions underway to achieve these outcomes in ways that align with community expectations,” she said.

Ms Rawlings said the Chamber’s claims the Noosa Plan doesn’t reflect the shire’s economic and social aspirations were highly inaccurate, having been developed with community and state input.

“All planning schemes and amendments must integrate economic, social and environmental considerations and satisfy the Minister for Planning to achieve sign-off by the State,” she said.

“Council also supports economic growth through the Smart Biosphere Economic Development Strategy, which is working to generate and attract high-value employment opportunities.”

From 2021 to 2023 the number of businesses in Noosa Shire grew by 13%, adding a further 850 new businesses to the region, while Noosa’s first quarter 2024 unemployment rate was 3.5% - lower than regional Queensland (3.9%), Queensland (4.0%), and Australia (3.8%).”